The Edinburgh Reporter November 2021

13
and grit to change the profile of the soil and improve
drainage, it catches and retains rainwater, allowing it to
be reabsorbed by the planted vegetation.
EMMA COOPER
SCOTTISH LAND COMMISSION
LAND IS AT THE HEART of Scotland’s action on
climate change. To achieve its ambitious climate targets,
there will be a land use transformation over the next
decade. In making this change, communities need to feel
not just engaged in the decisions, but feel the benefits of
it in their own places and communities. As well as acting
at scale and quickly, this transformation must be done in
a socially just and responsible way which reduces
inequalities rather than exacerbates them. The Land
Commission provides guidance on how this can be done,
using the Scottish Government’s Land Rights and
Responsibilities Statement to ensure responsible
approaches are at the heart of land ownership and use.
Climate action on land is not just about rural
communities. The Land Commission has led
collaboration to transform the way Scotland reuses
vacant and derelict sites in the heart of our towns
and cities.
There are many inspiring examples now of sites being
brought back into use in ways that help deliver climate
action, creating green space, nature networks, renewable
energy generation or active travel use. Many of these are
led by communities, demonstrating the benefits for
Going forward we will work with
developers asking them to rise to
the challenge of rapid climate
change and finite resources
climate, economy and quality of place that can be
delivered through community-led regeneration.
CLLR NEIL GARDINER
PLANNING CONVENER THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL
THE CITY PLAN 2030 is the next step to ensuring new
development in Edinburgh over the next ten years is
sustainable and contributes positively to our capital city.
This builds on the 2020 consultation where we asked for
views about our future direction, which have been
incorporated into the proposed plan.
Making best use of land we have available to
sustainably accommodate Edinburgh’s growing
population, our proposed plan uses ‘brownfield’ land to
build new low energy vibrant communities, supporting
Scottish Government’s national “20-minute walkable
neighbourhood” approach. These new communities will
be built on brownfield land around existing transport
networks with plenty of active travel options so people
can move around easily and live in affordable highquality
homes, with great culture and leisure activities
and educational and health facilities nearby.
Recalibrating how our city grows is appropriate, rather
than forever spreading continually outwards into
precious greenfield land. We need to protect Edinburgh’s
beautiful green setting from Pentlands Hills
Steph Bowring of The
Edinburgh Remakery
CLLR NEIL GARDINER
to the Forth, increase biodiversity, helping to address
physical and mental well-being, reduce flooding and
other climate impacts, as well as improving air quality.
A new sustainable neighbourhood in the west will
utilise the excellent existing transport infrastructure,
with the tram line running through and nearby network
rail station. Land for this new quarter was previously
designated largely for business development in the 2016
plan, together with the disused airport runway. Going
forward, we will work with developers asking them to
rise to the challenges of rapid climate change and finite
resources. Developers need to think more carefully about
location, using the land we have available effectively,
through sustainable design.
THE EDINBURGH REMAKERY
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
THE EDINBURGH REMAKERY is based on a Circular
Economy model – where as many materials and items as
possible are reused, repaired, re-purposed and recycled
to ensure as little as possible goes to waste – and says
it is an essential part of turning the tide against
climate disaster which they fear is a phrase which
has lost its meaning.
A spokesperson for Edinburgh Remakery said: “We
teach people how to sew, repair and remake their
clothing, encouraging them to reuse or pass on garments
instead of throwing them away and buying new. This
reduces carbon emissions, whilst also saving people
money and giving them a brand new creative skill to
enjoy. We also take in donations of old electronics, such
as laptops, tablets, smart phones, computers, and more,
which we repair and refurbish, and sell on or gift to
vulnerable groups facing financial hardship. This stops
these electronics from ending up in landfill where they
can pollute soil and waterways, and also means that
valuable materials and precious metals that are found in
these devices can be reused, which means less of these
finite materials need to be mined for production.
“These very simple actions – donating a laptop for
refurbishment or learning to repair your clothes or other
belongings – may seem small and insignificant but added
up they can have a huge positive impact on our climate.
Aerial pic of Rain Garden
courtesy of RBGE