Edinburgh Canal Strategy Consultation Document[1]

8/8/2019 Edinburgh Canal Strategy Consultation Document[1]

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The Edinburgh Canal Strategy

CONSULTATION

October 2010



The Edinburgh Canal Strategy Consultation

2 October2010 CityofEdinburghCouncilCity Development







Scotland’s Canals

S cotland’scanalnetworkisover200yearsoldandtravelsfor

137milesfromLochNessinthenorthtoFortWilliamandGlasgow in the west, via Falkirk to Edinburgh in the East.The

Scottishcanalnetworkisanationalandinternationalasset,not

justforitsrecreationalvalue,butasforitsimportantindustrial

heritage.

TheScottishcanalnetworkismadeupof5canals,intheHighlands-theCaledonian

andtheCrinian,andintheLowlands-theMonkland,theForthandClydeandthe

EdinburghandGlasgowUnion,knownmoresimplyasTheUnionCanal.




CityofEdinburghCouncilCity Development October2010 5

The Union Canal

H istory

DesignedbytheengineerHughBaird,the31.5mileUnionCanalwas

builtinonly4yearsbetween1818and1822atacostof£461,760–

twiceitsinitialestimate.TheCanalwasbuiltusingpicks,shovelsand

wheelbarrows by labourers known as navigators –‘navvies’. Many

immigrantscamefromIrelandtoworkonthecanalincludingnotably

WilliamBurkeandWilliamHare.

TheUnionCanalwasbuilttotransportcoalintotothecityandwaste

andhorse manure out. Later, thecanal wasalso used to transportpassengers–aswiftboatcouldreachFalkirkin3.5hoursandatitspeak

in1836wasusedannuallyby200,000passengers.

However,in1842,theopeningoftheEdinburghGlasgowrailwayledto

passengersandgoodsmovingawayfromthecanaltothisnewfaster

meansoftransport.Useofthecanaldeclinedandin1965anActof

Parliamentclosedthecanaltonavigation,thecanalfellintodisrepairand

waseventuallyseveredbytheM8motorwayandhousingdevelopmentatWesterHailes.

Buttheturnofthemillenniumsawanextensiverestorationprogrammade

possiblebythemillenniumlotteryfund;theMillenniumLinkProjectrestored

the UnionCanal toits former glory re-instatingthe waterway atWester

Hailes.Thecanalwasre-openedtonavigationin2001andnowlinksthe

heartofEdinburghtoGlasgowviathespectacularFalkirkWheel.





H eritage

WhilstitwasthelastoftheScottishCanalstobebuilt,theUnionCanalis

asignicantindustrialheritageassetnotjustforthecity,butnationally

andinternationallyandisrecognisedassuchbyitsscheduledancient

monumentstatus.

TheUnionCanalwasbuiltasa‘contourcanal’-itfollowsa73mcontour

throughoutits length.Thecanalhasno locks;insteadit travelsover

threeaqueducts,includingthesecondlargestaqueductinBritain-the

AvonAqueductbyLinlithgow,SlatefordAqueductthattakesthecanalovertheWaterofLeithinEdinburghandtheAlmondAqueductnear

Ratho.

The canal alsopassesthroughthe oldest andlongest canal tunnel

in Scotland - the 631m Falkirk Tunnel. At the Edinburgh end, the

LeamingtonliftbridgecanbefoundatFountainbridge.Thishydraulic

bridgewasbuiltin1906byArmstrongofNewcastleandwasrefurbished

andre-openedaspartoftheMillenniumLinkProjectin2002.





The Union Canal in Edinburgh

T heUnionCanalin Edinburghrunsfor16kmbetweenandthroughthecommunitiesofRatho,WesterHailes,

Longstone,Craiglockhart,Merchiston,PolwarthandTollcross,terminatingatFountainbridgeinthecitycentre.

ThecanalalsopassesHarrisonPark,MeggetlandandHailesPark,andcrossesovertheWaterofLeithviathe180m

longSlatefordAqueduct.

TheUnionCanalisnotjustaheritageassetforEdinburgh,butalsoanavigablewaterwayforboating,animportantwildlifehabitat,awalkingand

cyclingroute,andafocusfornewcanalsidedevelopmentandforlocalcommunityuse.





The Union Canal Waterway

T raditionally canals were navigated by canal boats

or‘narrow boats’ designed to carry goods on thenarrowcanals.Larger,widerboatssuchas‘barges’were

alsoused.Today,manyoftheseboatscanstillbeseen

moored at Lochrin Basin oralongthe canalbanksat

HarrisonParkandatRatho.

There are many types of moorings available on the Union Canal,

includinglongtermmoorings(otherwiseknownashomemoorings)

usedfor thegeneralberthing of a boat, visitor mooringsfor those

takinga holidayon thecanal,commercial mooringsfor restaurants

and oces, and residential moorings for people who wish to live

permanentlyonaboat.

Thewaterwayitselfisnotjustusedbycanalboats,butalsobycanoes

and rowing boats. The St Andrew’s Rowing Club, George Watson’s

Rowing Club andEdinburghUniversity Rowing Clubsas well asthe

ForthCanoeClubareallbasedontheUnionCanal.





a W ildlife H abitat

TheUnionCanalisoneofEdinburgh’smostimportantwildlifecorridors,

with an astonishing range of dierent habitats, from slow owing

freshwaterwithits adjacentreedfringetograssland, hedgerow and

woodland.

Therearetendierentshspeciesincludingpike,perch,roach,carp

andtench,aswellasdragonies,damseliesandotherinvertebrates,

badgers,bats,ottersandwatervoles.Thecanalalsoattractsavarietyof

birdlife,rangingfromthefamiliarmallardandcoottothenotsofamiliar

kingsherandcormorant.





W alking and C yCling

WhilsttheUnionCanaltowpathwasonceusedbyhorses,attachedto

canalboatstopullthemalongthewater,itisnowapopularwalking

andcyclingroute.Aroundsevenmillionpeopleusethecanal’stowpath

annually,rangingfromrunningtowalkingthedog.

The towpathconnects Edinburgh tothe westcoastofScotland, via

the 106km‘Forth to Firth’ pathway and the 138km‘Forth to Clyde’

cycleroute(Sustransroute75).Thetowpathisalsopopularforlocal

commuting,eitherviacycleorfootas itprovidesa directtrac-free

routeintothecitycentre.





C anal sid e development

Edinburgh Quay was the rst signicant commercial development to

takeadvantageofthereopeningcanal,builtonalargelyderelictlandat

thecanal’s Edinburgh terminus.As partof thedevelopmentmorethan

5500sqmofocespacehasbeencreatedinthelastveyears.Therehas

alsobeenasignicantlevelofresidentialdevelopmentaroundthecanal

inthecitywithpropertysituatedatthewaterinEdinburghbeing10-15%

moreexpensivethansurroundingproperties.

ThereisstillasignicantamountofderelictlandaroundtheUnionCanal,particularlyatFountainbridgeuponwhichfurtherdevelopmentisplanned.

Newdevelopment will berequiredtointeractwiththe canal,as wellas

protectingitsheritageandbiodiversity.

C ommunity u se s

TheUnionCanalinEdinburghispromotedbytheEdinburghCanalSociety,

whichis based atHarrisonPark,andtwo societies; TheSeagullTrust(at

Ratho)and ReUnion(EdinburghQuay, Fountainbridge)all making canal

boatingavailabletoall.

TheannualEdinburghCanalFestivalprovidesafocusontheactivitiesalong

thecanalwherepeopleofallagescanexperienceatrsthandtheappeal

ofthecanal,takingatriponaboat,tryingoutcanoeing,learningaboutthe

canal’swildlifeortakingpartintheraftrace.









The Edinburgh Canal Strategy – consultation

T hedevelopmentofastrategyfortheUnionCanalwithinEdinburghprovidesthechancetodiscussopportunities

tomakethecanalintoarecognisableplacewhilstaddressingissuesthatmayimpairitspotential.

Thisdocumentcovers:

• issuesandopportunitiesthathavebeenidentiedfortheUnion

Canal

• Useofthecanalwaterway

• Planningpolicyprinciples

• CanalHubs

• Ratho

• WesterHailes

• CanalQuarter

Thedocumentposesaseriesofquestionsoneachtopicattheendof

eachsection.





• Improving the environment by providing green space andrecreationalfacilitieswithintheurbanarea,

• Improving physical and visual connections between the canal

corridor,thelocalcommunitiesandthewiderCity

• Improvingtheappealandvisibilityofthecanalasatouristattraction

withaccessibleinformationonthingstodoandsee;

•

Oering opportunities for large and small scale developmentrangingfromnewbusinessesandocesandshopstosmallscale

communityhousingandcreatingjobopportunities,

• Creatingnew waterspace andmoorings, in order to establisha

strongwaterwaycommunity

• Improving and developing appropriate canal-side facilities for

boatersand nonboaters includingtoilets, seating, signage,and

lighting,

opportunities

Anumberofinitialopportunitieshavebeenidentiedalongthecanal

corridorwhichCECandBWSwishtodiscusswiththosewhouseand/

orhaveaninterestinthecanal,theseinclude:





• Managing competing canal and canal uses - canoeists, rowers,leisureboaters,commercialcraft,walkers,cyclistsandanglers

• Stimulatingcondenceandpridewithincommunitiesandimprove

localuse,usingthecanalasacatalysttocommunityregeneration

• Improvingthesenseofsafetyalongthecanalcorridor,increasing

use,improvingpassivesurveillanceandpreventingvandalismand,

•

Improvingtherelationshipofsurroundingcommunitiesandaccesstothecanal.

• Securing the future maintenance of the canal and canalside

environment by securing support for the canal corridor from

canalsidedevelopments

• UtilisingtheCanalasaformofSustainableTransport

• Exploring the canalas part ofland drainage and watersupply

Systems

• Consideringhowthecanalcancontributetosupportingclimate

change,carbonreductionandEnvironmentalSustainability

Q uestion 1

Do you consider that we have identied the ull range o

opportunities or the Union Canal?

I not, what alternatives or additions would you propose?

Q uestion 2

Can you identiy where the opportunities can best be realised

or achieved?

Q uestion 3

Can you identiy any issues in achieving these opportunities, or

example where there may be conficts?





u se of tH e Canal WaterWay

Anestablishedwaterwaycommunityofboatsisastrongindicatorof

ahealthywaterwaycorridorandactsasanattractorforwideruseof

thetowpathbyestablishingcondence,colourandlifeintheplace.

However,Itisrecognisedthatasignicantchallengesexistsinseeking

tomaximisethepotentialofthecanalthroughthedevelopmentof

onand oline canal mooringsand theprovisionof other essential

waterwayfacilitiestostimulatesustainablewaterwayactivity.

Q uestion 4

How can we achieve a sustainable canal waterway?

Q uestion 5

What role should a Canal Strategy have in helping to achieve

this?

Q uestion 6

How can we improve the role o the Union Canal and Edinburgh

within the wider Scottish Waterway initiatives?

p lanning poliCy prinCiples

It is important that the strategy promotes the proper integration

betweencanal-sidedevelopmentandthecanalcorridorbyestablishing

appropriatedesignprinciplesintermsofsiting,massing,orientation,

grain,scale,connectivityandboundarytreatments.

Q uestion 7

What design guidelines should the Strategy propose to ensure

canal side developments relate to and enhance the local

identity o the waterway in the City?







R atho ‘ canal village ’

ItisrecognisedthatthereisanopportunityatRathotoenhancethe

recreationalpotentialofthe Canal,building ontheEdinburghCanal

Centre,linkswiththeRathoAdventurecentreanditspositionasan

overnightmooringpointbetweenLinlithgowandEdinburgh.Thereare

anumberofopportunitiesforimprovingthecanalatRathoincluding:

• Accesstocanal,

• NewboatmooringsandtheproposedmarinaatFreelandsRoad,

• Improvingeducation,awareness,villageinformation,andlinkswith

existingcommunityuses,and,

• ImprovinglinkseasttocityandwesttotheRathoAdventureCentre.

Q uestion 11

Do you consider that building upon Ratho’s potential as a canal

village is the correct approach? I not, what should the approach

be?

Q uestion 12


opportunities or the Ratho hub? I not, what alternatives or

additions would you propose?

Q uestion 13

Within Ratho can you identiy where the opportunities can best

be realised or achieved?





D A L M A H O Y R O A D

W I L K I E S

TONRO AD

MA I N S T

R E E T

RA T H O

PA R K

R OA D

B A I R D R O A D

F R E E

LA N D

S R O A D

CANAL

TOWPATH

ARTERIALROUTES

POSSIBLETHROUGHROUTE

MOORINGS

POINTSOFACCESS

LEISURE

FUTUREDEVELOPMENTSITES

BUSSTOPS

SEAGULLTRUST

RATHO





W esteR h ailes ‘ community canal’

WesterHailesmarksthe entranceof thecanalto theurbanarea of

Edinburgh.However,itisrecognisedthatsubstantialpro-activework

isrequiredovertimeif theoriginalregeneration themeof thecanal

istoholdgoodforWesterHailes.Thereforethestrategyproposesthe

inclusionofcommunitydevelopmentwherethekeyaimistostimulate

arangeofcanal-side,recreational,business,andcommunityuseswhilst

markingthearrivalofcanalusersintoEdinburgh.Thereareanumberof

opportunitiesforimprovingthecanalatWesterHailesincluding:

• Creatingcommunityusesonthecanalbanks,

• Promotingcommunityprideinthecanal

• Improvingboatersperceptionofsafetyandenjoymentofthearea

• Improvingcondenceinthewaterway,increasingsafetyonand

along thecanalthroughnatural surveillanceand environmental

improvements,

• Thecreationofagatewaytothecity,and,

• Improvinglinkstothetowncentre.

Q uestion 14

Do you consider that building upon Wester Hailes’s potential or

developing a community canal is the correct approach? I not,

what should the approach be?

Q uestion 15


opportunities or the Wester Hailes hub? I not, what alternatives

or additions would you propose?

Q uestion 16:

Within Wester Hailes can you identiy where the opportunities

can best be realised or achieved?





H A I L E S L A N D

R O A D

D U M B R Y D E N D R I V E

C L O V E N S T O N E R O A D

M U R R A Y

B U R N

R O A D

W E S T B U R N

A V E N U E

W E S T E R H A I L E S R

O A D

W E S T E R

H A I L E S R

O A D

MURRAY B U RN D R I V E

HAILESLANDROAD

D U M B R Y D

E N D R I V E

C L O V E N S T O N E R O A D

M U R R A Y

B U R N

R O A D

W E S T B

U R N

A V E N

U E

W E S T E R H A I L E S R

O A D

W E S T E R

H A I L E S R

O A D

MURRAY B U RN D R I V E

CANAL

TOWPATH

ARTERIALROUTES


MOORINGS

TOWNCENTRE

BUSSTOPS

RAILWAYSTATIONS

WESTER HAILES







S L A T E F

O R D

R O A

D

D U N D

E E S T

R E E T

F O U N T A

I N B R

I D G E

P O L W

A R T

H T E R

R A C E

P O L W

A R T H

GA R D E

N S

G I L M

O R E

P L A

C E

D A L R Y R O A D

G R O V E S T R E E T

Y E A M A N P L .

P O L W A R T H C

R .

H A R R I S O

N R O A D

M E R C H I S T O N A V E N U E

V I E W F O

R T H

S H A N D O N P L A

C E

G R A Y ’ S L O

A N

CANAL

TOWPATH

ARTERIALROUTES


MOORINGS

POINTSOFACCESS

LEISURE

PARKLAND

BUSSTOPS

EDINBURGHCANALSOCIETY

CANAL QUARTER




24 October2010 CityofEdinburghCouncilCity Developmentimage courtesy of Richard Dyson - trixtaphotography.com

http://www.trixtaphotography.co.uk/

http://www.trixtaphotography.co.uk/





What next?

I nordertoconsiderthe‘opportunities’andquestionsdetailedinthisdocumentandtheproposed‘hub’approach

aperiodofpublicconsultationisproposed.ResponsestothisconsultationdocumentshouldbereturnedtotheCouncilbyFriday17thDecember2010.

Duringtheconsultationperiodanumberofcommunityandstakeholder

workshopsandeventswillbeheldwithinthethreehubs(CityCentre,

WesterHailesandRatho),theEdinburghQuaydevelopmentandwith

naturalheritagebodies.TheconsultationworkshopswillruninOctober

andNovember2010.

Ifyouwouldliketobeinvolvedinthisconsultationexercisethedates

andlocationsof theconsultationmeetings andeventsareavailable

ontheCouncilWebsite www.edinburgh.gov.uk :searchEdinburgh

CanalStrategy.

Alternatively,pleasedonothesitatecancontactKateHopperorCraig

WoodofthePlanningService,CityofEdinburghCouncilon:

Kate [email protected] 01315296232

Craig [email protected] 01315293904

Thisdocumentwillbeavailableatthe Planning&BuildingStandards

receptionareaattheCouncil’socesatWaverleyCourt, 4EastMarket

Street,Edinburgh.

It is expected thata draft Strategy, togetherwith theresultsof the

consultationexercisewillbereportedtoPlanningCommitteeinearly

2011.

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/187/planning-consultations/1094/edinburgh_canal_strategy

mailto:kate.hopper%40edinburgh.gov.uk%20?subject=The%20Edinburgh%20Canal%20Strategy

mailto:craig.wood%40edinburgh.gov.uk?subject=The%20Edinburgh%20Canal%20Strategy

mailto:craig.wood%40edinburgh.gov.uk?subject=The%20Edinburgh%20Canal%20Strategy

mailto:kate.hopper%40edinburgh.gov.uk%20?subject=The%20Edinburgh%20Canal%20Strategy

http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/187/planning-consultations/1094/edinburgh_canal_strategy



The Edinburgh Canal Strategy

CONSULTATION

October 2010

Youcangetthisdocumentontape,inBraille,largeprintandvariouscomputerformatsifyouaskus.

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Documents

Edinburgh Canal Strategy Consultation Document[1]