The Edinburgh Union Canal Strategy - City of Edinburgh Council

The Edinburgh Union Canal StrategyCurrent ContextPlanning and DevelopmentTHE MILLENNIUM LINK PROJECTPlans for reconnecting the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde Canal‘The Millennium Link project’ was launched by British Waterways in 1994,with funding secured in 1997.The £84.5 million pound project started in March 1999 and included anumber of significant engineering projects including on the Union Canala new section of canal at Wester Hailes, the diversion of the canal by theM8 motorway and a new bridge, the reopening of the Leamington LiftBridge and the joining together of the two canals by the Falkirk Wheel.The Union Canal was officially reopened in 2001, with the MillenniumLink completed with the opening of the Falkirk Wheel by HRH The Queenand The Duke of Edinburgh in May 2002 marking the completion of theproject.PLANNING POLICYFOUNTAINBRIDGE DEVELOPMENT BRIEFThe Fountainbridge Development Brief was approved by The City ofEdinburgh Council in 2004 and amended in 2005. The Brief set out theplanning context for the Edinburgh end of the Union Canal following theclosure of Fountain Brewery by Scottish and Newcastle.The purpose of the brief was to establish a comprehensive townscapeand infrastructure framework for the Fountainbridge area. The brief setsouts the main planning and design principles on which development inthe area will be based, and seeks to maximise the benefits of regenerationfor local communities and the City as a whole. The development briefcovers 32.5 hectares and a wide range of uses.EDINBURGH QUAYEdinburgh Quay was the first significant commercialdevelopment to take advantage of the reopeningcanal, built on a largely derelict land at the canal’sEdinburgh terminus at Lochrin Basin. As part of thedevelopment more than 5500sqm of office space hasbeen created in the last five years. There has also beena significant level of residential and student housingdevelopment around the canal at Leamington Wharfand Fountain North as part of the Fountainbridgeredevelopment.There is still a significant amount of derelict land atFountainbridge. The remainder of the Fountainbridgesite is currently under consideration as part of aplanning applicationThe Edinburgh City Local Plan 2010 recognises that the restored canalnetwork is a nationally significant asset with considerable potential forrecreational use and canal related development. However, proposalshave to take account of its interest as a scheduled ancient monumentand its importance for wildlife.The Plan recognises that there is potential for development within theurban area, and include most importantly sites around the terminalbasin at Fountainbridge, indentifed by the Plan as one of its Central Areaproposals (CA 3) and covered by the Fountainbridge Development Brief.Other urban area locations with special potential are Wester Hailes andHarrison Park, but recognises that any feasible proposal will need to bethe subject of consultation with local communities.The Plan highlights that development adjoining the canal should focuson the canal, by providing active frontages and a diversity of uses andby enhancing access for pedestrians and cyclists to the canal. Attentionshould also be paid to its nature conservation value.THE CANAL WATERWAYTraditionally canals were navigated by canal boats or‘narrow boats’ designed to carry goods on the narrowcanals. Larger wider boats such as ‘barges’ were alsoused. Today, many of these boats can still be seenmoored at Lochrin Basin or along the canal banks atHarrison Park and Ratho.There are many types of moorings available onthe Union Canal, including long term moorings(otherwise known as home moorings) used for thegeneral berthing of a boat, visitor moorings for thosetaking a holiday on the canal, commercial mooringsfor restaurants and offices, and residential mooringsfor people who wish to live permanently on a boat.City of Edinburgh Council City Development December 2011 11