On 1 October, City of Edinburgh Council received the great news that its Evidence Report successfully passed the Gate Check.
The Gate Check is a key step in the preparation of a new local development plan. It is when the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) tests whether a local authority’s Evidence Report has sufficient and accurate information to go on and prepare a Proposed Plan.
For us, the Evidence Report was a huge piece of work that spanned many topics and places, required input across Council services and external partners and involved a huge amount of engagement.
The DPEA highlighted that the Evidence Report was comprehensive, involved extensive engagement and a clear grasp of key matters.
Following this positive decision, we will be preparing our next Development Plan Scheme which will set out the timetable for preparing the Proposed Plan and the next opportunities to engage in the process.
This will give everyone more time to submit their proposals and ideas to help frame the vision, policies and proposals for the Proposed Plan.
You can submit your suggestions via the Council’s Consultation Hub. You can also find out more and what information is required to submit a proposal or idea.
Your ideas should focus on the use and development of land and buildings across Edinburgh – this could be proposals for an area of land, site or building, something you want to protect or improve or planning policies you want to change.
We are asking what your think of our new draft Place Brief for the existing hospital site, which was approved by Planning Committee on 9 September 2026 for consultation.
The Astley Ainslie has been in hospital use for over 100 years. It was originally a convalescent hospital and at the forefront of medical rehabilitation in Scotland throughout its history with the natural landscape setting important to help recovery. You can find out more about Astley Ainslie Hospital’s history on the NHS website celebrating its centenary in 2023.
The NHS is planning to keep some services on the site including GPs and the SMART Centre but is selling the rest of the site.
City Plan 2030 identifies Astley Ainslie for housing-led mixed-use development. There will be new development on the site, but this will need to respect the mature landscape setting, create a sustainable place and keep its special character.
Astley Ainslie is well-loved by the surrounding communities with the Astley Ainslie Community Trust working with local residents to produce a Local Place Plan for the site.
The Draft Place Brief brings together that community voice with an assessment of the site and the aspirations of the NHS. It puts forward a set of principles for the future development.
You can read the Astley Ainslie Draft Place Brief and give us your views on the Consultation Hub until 11 November 2026.
Come along and meet the team
There are also drop-in events where you can chat to planning officers on:
Monday 5 October 16:30-19:00 at Morningside Library, 184 Morningside Road
Saturday 24 October 10:30-13:30 at Newington Library, 17-21 Fountainhall Road
We’re at the very early stages of putting together our next local development plan City Plan 2040.
There is still time to submit your proposals and ideas to help frame the vision, policies and proposals for the Proposed Plan.
Your ideas should focus on the use and development of land and buildings across Edinburgh – this could be proposals for an area of land, site or building, something you want to protect or improve or planning policies you want to change.
You can submit your suggestions via the Council’s Consultation Hub. You can also find out more and what information is required to submit a proposal or idea.
The consultation is open until 30 September 2026 and every idea will be considered.
Planning Committee has approved the revised Gilmerton Conservation Area Character Appraisal (CACA) at its meeting on 17 June 2026.
The newly approved document is now a material consideration in the determination of planning applications within the conservation area. It will also serve as a reference for planning, design and discussions relating to listed buildings and new development in Gilmerton.
Gilmerton Conservation Area was originally designated in October 1977 in recognition of its rich mining and agricultural heritage, which continues to shape the area’s distinctive street pattern and historic buildings.
The previous Character Appraisal dated back to July 2000. Keeping Character Appraisals up to date is important, not only to ensure planning decisions are based on current evidence, but also because an appraisal that is typically less than five years old is a key requirement when applying for future conservation funding.
Any future funding bids will need to clearly demonstrate how proposed projects align with the findings and recommendations set out in the appraisal.
Opportunities for enhancement
The revised appraisal identifies a number of opportunities to help protect and enhance Gilmerton’s special character.
These include:
Greater attention given to encouraging development that reinforce features that give Gilmerton its unique character and history
Creating more opportunities for people to stop, rest and enjoy the area’s historic environment
Investing in important community assets, including the Category B listed Gilmerton Community Centre, the Society Hall and Gilmerton Library
The sympathetic restoration and reopening of Gilmerton Cove, the remarkable underground network of tunnels and chambers as an educational, community and visitor attraction
Greater attention to encouraging developments that retain original architectural features wherever possible and that use traditional materials.
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