Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site Management Plan: Further Consultation

(c) Karen Gordon

A further consultation has begun for eight weeks to give the public the opportunity to comment on our proposed World Heritage Site Management Plan before approval by summer 2024.

World Heritage Sites (WHS) are recognised by UNESCO as places of outstanding cultural, historical, or scientific value and are legally protected by international treaties.

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh were given WHS status in 1995; recognising the striking contrast and quality in architecture between the medieval Old Town and the Georgian New Town.

Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site Management Plan

A Management Plan identifies issues and opportunities within the World Heritage Site, and sets out priority areas for action to preserve and enhance the site. While the management plan covers a ten-year period, an action plan is developed alongside it focusing on a two-year period.

Between 2021 and 2023, members of the public were consulted on the development of the new Management Plan. This feedback identified five themes of relevance to the management of the World Heritage Site:

  • Awareness, appreciation and activity around World Heritage Site status
  • Climate emergency
  • Conservation and maintenance of buildings and public spaces
  • Control, guidance, and contribution of new development to city centre
  • Sustainable visitor experience

Give us your views by 8 April 2024.

View the BSL video on Instagram:

Planning Helpdesk and Weekly Lists – Christmas and New Year arrangements  

View from Princes Street of Edinburgh Castle covered in snow with a sunset in the background.

The Planning Helpdesk will be closed from Monday 25 December 2023 and will reopen on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Queries received over this time will be dealt with starting on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

Our online resources and self-service options will still be available 24/7, ensuring that you can find information and resources whenever you need them.

We have a wide range of planning quick guides – these answer a lot of commonly asked questions, including for

Planning guidance gives advice on topics to guide new development. This guidance answers a lot of commonly asked questions for

The Planning Portal is the easiest & quickest way to comment on planning applications. When you submit a comment over the planning portal, we receive it within minutes.

Planning enforcement issues can also be reported online.

Weekly lists & planning advertisements

Please note there will be NO planning weekly lists issued Monday 25 December 2023.

The next weekly list will be issued on Wednesday 3 January 2024.

The following dates apply for the planning advertisement in the Edinburgh Evening News

  • Friday 22 December 2023 – Advertisement
  • Friday 29 December 2023 – NO Advertisement
  • Friday 5 January 2024 – Advertisement

Updated Planning and Enforcement Charters

View of Edinburgh looking West towards the castle from Calton Hill. Cranes tower above New Town &  the Dugald Stewart Monument sits in the foreground.

We recently updated two of our customer service charters. These refreshed charters set out the service we aim to provide and what happens at different stages of the planning process.

The Planning Customer Service Charter

The Planning Enforcement Charter

The charters set out more specific standards linked to our three main responsibilities which are

  • planning policy
  • development management
  • planning enforcement

The charters provide details of how to contact us and report planning breaches.

We also have a wide range of guidance on our website at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning including for

If you still have a question, get in touch!

planning@edinburgh.gov.uk

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UPDATE: Planning & Building Standards systems upgrade

Following the successful upgrade of the Planning and Building Standards systems, the Planning and Building Standards Portal is now back online.

Relevant applications will have additional time for comments to be made to take account of the downtime.

Computer laptop

Planning & Building Standards Systems Upgrade

Computer keyboard with the letters 'upgrade' highlighted.

Next week an upgrade of Planning and Building Standards systems is planned, meaning the Planning and Building Standards Portal will be unavailable from Thursday 20 July to Thursday 27 July 2023.

The upgrade will result in several improvements including security fixes and enhanced accessibility.

The weekly list of planning applications will not be issued on the week beginning Monday 24 July 2023 and you will be unable to view and comment on applications.

There will also be no advert or site notices published on Friday 28 July.

Relevant applications will have additional time added for comments to be made to take account of the downtime. Our targets of 2 months/ 4 months are not altered.

During this time, you will be unable to view enforcement cases or the enforcement register.  Enforcement enquires can still be made using the online form.

Latest updates will be displayed at www.edinburgh.gov.uk/pbsupgrade.

You can also keep up to date by following us on Twitter @planningedin or subscribing to the Planning Blog.