The Forth Ports proposals for the regeneration of Leith Docks seem likely to speed their way through the planning committee next week. The plans are receiving uncritical coverage in the Evening News, planning officials have recommended that our councillors approve the proposals, and now we note that Alex Salmond has been writing to Edinburgh councillors in support of Forth Ports Plans. He has sent a letter to Charles Hammond, Director of Forth Ports as well as all local Edinburgh councillors, saying:

“I was very impressed by your plans for the area and the work which has already been undertaken. Our boat trip provided an excellent vantage point, and I look forward to seeing the project completed.”

Alex Salmond is the head of the body that must ultimately decide on planning decisions in Scotland, and so for him to intervene at this stage in the planning process is considered by many as ill-advised. Afterall, Alex Salmond was strongly criticised for ‘showing exceptionally poor judgement,’ by a committee of Holyrood MSP’s after he made similar public comments in support of the Trump golf course proposals near Aberdeen.

Greener Leith has objected to some aspects of the Forth Ports proposals and as a consequence we have been invited to address planning officials when they consider them next week. We will be asking the planning committee to ensure that:

•    Developers of the site are forced to provide more green space in the development or pay to significantly upgrade Leith Links to cope with increased demand. The current proposals do not provide enough open space within the Docks development.
•    Arrangements are made to ensure that open spaces are maintained properly for the long term.
•    The planning committee reject all proposals for tall buildings, as we believe that this will have a detrimental impact on Edinburgh’s historic skyline and the built heritage of the whole city.
•    The planning committee seek more detail on where important community facilities will be sited with the development.

However, with the leader of Edinburgh council clearly supportive of tall buildings near the city centre, and a First Minister lobbying councillors to approve the plans before the committee meeting, we’re not convinced that we’re going to have any influence over the process whatsoever. It feels as though the decision has already been taken to rubber stamp the proposals, even if no-one has broken the letter of any laws.

Public interventions like Alex Salmonds do little to encourage local residents to get involved in the planning system, as he gives the clear impression that he supports the developer and that he is using his influence to predetermine the outcome of the planning process. Greener Leith would like to see more evidence from our elected officials that they are acting in the best interests of everyone – not just the people who stand to gain financially from regeneration.

The choices facing our councillors are stark. Will the plans provide a modern development comparable to Edinburghs last New Town? Or, is this a blue print for a new Westerhailes by the sea?

Read the Greener Leith written submission to the Planning Committee here.