The Edinburgh Reporter April 2022

2 NEWS
Planning News
Editorial
IN THE MIDST of all the bad news, there
was one truly good news story during the
last month which brought a happy tear to
many eyes.
The release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
after six long years of imprisonment and
house arrest in Iran was a bright light in the
darkness of other recent world affairs. The
separation of a mother from her young
daughter was heartbreaking, the hunger
strikes by her and her husband Richard
impossibly brave, and the apparent blunder
by the then Foreign Secretary, Boris
Johnson, who told a committee at the
Commons that she was “simply teaching
people journalism” was unforgivable.
Words matter particularly when it comes
to politicians. As we went to press the
council had entered purdah, and
electioneering has begun in earnest.
There will be 63 councillors elected on 5
May, with most wards electing three or more
councillors, often from different political
parties. There is no such thing as a protest
vote in local elections since the votes are
counted according to the Single Transferable
Vote system and not first past the post as
they are in Westminster elections, or the
partial proportional representation as they
are in Scottish Parliament elections. So
when you cast your vote you will rank them
in order of preference rather than voting for
one single candidate. It is key to know who
is standing in your Ward, and of course
to register to vote if you wish to have your
say. Read our candidate profiles online from
1 April.
We look back over the past five years of
the coalition between SNP and Labour
which has run the council on page 4.
Cllrs Adam McVey and Cammy Day -
were instrumental in ensuring the
Ukrainian president and the Mayor of Kyiv
our twin city will receive Edinburgh’s
highest honour, the Freedom of the City.
There are five living Freemen of the City:
HM The Queen (1947), Sir Chris Hoy
(2012), Professor Peter Higgs (2014)
Squadron 603 of the Royal Auxiliary Air
Force granted in 2018 and the Scottish and
North Irish Yeomanry (2 April 2022).
Phyllis Stephen, Editor
A NEW PassivHaus school - Scotland’s first
- will be built as plans for Currie Community
High School have been given the go ahead.
Construction is expected to begin this
summer and the school will be ready for
pupils in 2024. The energy consumption for
heating will be reduced by around 90% on a
traditional building - and overall energy
consumption is said to be reduced by 70%
and minimises carbon emissions.
The school will have a series of learning
zones for pupils with breakout areas, a strong
emphasis on outdoor learning and a special
terrace on the second floor which will give
access to outside teaching spaces.
Councillor Neil Gardiner, Planning
Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council,
said: “I welcome the decision taken today in
approving the planning application for the
new Currie Community High School. This will
provide the community with a state-of-theart
sustainable high school, sports and
community facilities which will meet both
future educational and environmental needs.
“It’s great to see such a strong emphasis on
outdoor learning with the creation of a
special terrace and how the outdoor spaces
will promote sustainability for the school and
local community.”
Councillor Ian Perry, Education, Children
and Families Convener for the City of
Edinburgh Council, said: “The pioneering
designs that have been approved today really
are the blueprint for the schools of the future.
There are many innovative elements to the
plans with energy efficiency at its centre. This
will make the new campus the first high
school in Scotland to meet Passivhaus
standards and supports Edinburgh’s aim of
net zero emissions by 2030.
“The new Currie Community High School
will provide a first-class learning environment
and an exciting, inspirational and creative
hub for the whole community.”
GET IN
TOUCH
TODAY!
The new Currie Community
High School
A PLANNING application has been made
by house builder CALA for 267 houses on
land to the south west of Meadowfield Farm.
This site - plots 6, 7 and 8 - lies between
Turnhouse Road and the railway line and
particular attention has been given to
transport matters including electric vehicle
charging spaces. There are plans for 56 of
these and 263 parking spaces and 272 cycle
parking spaces. Two new bus stops are
included in the plans and a toucan signalised
crossing at the main access to the
development. There will also be a new bridge
over the railway with connection to the trams
and Edinburgh Gateway.
CHANGE OF USE and alterations has been
sought for current Hollister and Amor
Cashmere and Tweed units at 80 George
Street, converting them for occupation by
Norwegian social gaming brand Oche, which
is a darts-themed bar and restaurant with
sites in Oslo, Brisbane, Gothenburg,
Amsterdam and Miami.
THE COUNCIL granted permission for a
residential redevelopment of the former
Lismore Primary School site in Duddingston
as part of the council’s 21st Century Homes
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programme with 40 homes in four blocks in
2019. That development at Bingham Avenue
has now been shortlisted for this year’s Homes
for Scotland Awards. There are one, two, three
bedroom homes in a mix of flats, cottage flats
and colony style houses. The “ecologyfocused”
landscaping includes an abundance
of private and communal greenspace.
EDIBLE ESTATES has lodged an
application for a proposed community farm
in Niddrie Mill Grove. This will include work to
put up a six feet high perimeter mesh fence
and three polytunnels with a wooden shed
and raised beds to grow fruit and vegetables.
CHANGE OF USE has been applied for for
a row of three shops on Multrees Walk to
become a car showroom. The units formerly
occupied by Castle Fine Art, The Pen Shop &
North America Travel Service would be
converted into a single unit for Korean luxury
car brand Genesis which is the luxe division of
Hyundai. The brand’s first “immersive studio”
opened in London last year, with other
branches in Munich and Zurich. Prices are
generally around ten per cent cheaper than
their rivals including Mercedes and BMW. The
brand also includes three electric models.
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Editor: Phyllis Stephen
Designer: Felipe Perez
Photos: Martin P McAdam
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