We are Scotland’s busiest planning authority, handling over 3,000 applications a year in a city with internationally valued built and natural heritage. We have ambitious plans to realise Edinburgh’s vision of a fair, welcoming, pioneering and thriving city.
So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to get involved in a range of planning projects and processes, develop your knowledge and skills, and of course, work with a great bunch of people, then you can apply via myjobscotland.
The closing date for all positions is 15 January 2023.
In this short video some of the team share what it’s like to work here:
In an earlier post from 2022, one of our planners blogged about their experience of the job and how it helped them to develop their skills.
This Thursday (22 Dec) our consultation on the proposed changes to the Guidance for Businesses is closing. We want to hear your views on the proposed changes and specifically the expanded section on short term lets (STLs).
In 2021, Scottish Government legislation allowed councils to have a short-term let control area. In a control area, this means that if a flat or a house, which is not the home you live in, is used for a short-term let, you will need planning permission.
Edinburgh was the first council in Scotland to apply for a short-term control area, which has now been in place since 5 September 2022 and covers the whole of the Council’s area.
The amount of STL accommodation has grown significantly in the last ten years and Edinburgh is recognised as an area that has greater pressures than other parts of the country.
Planning applications for STLs be assessed against the Local Development Plan along with the updated guidance and any other relevant material considerations.
Your responses will shape the final version of the guidance which we aim to have in place in early 2023.
The proposed Plan was presented to Councillors at Planning Committee to decide on whether to submit the plan to Scottish Ministers for examination.
Councillors from across the political groups voted unanimously in favour of submitting the plan and congratulated planning officers and all those who contributed to the plan by concluding the session with a rare committee occurrence of a round of applause.
Councillors gave praise to the quality of the plan and commended the scale of the work that had been undertaken to produce such an ambitious document. Councillors recognised the capability of the plan to usher in a sustainable and modern future for Edinburgh, with comments of support from across the board over the need to progress the plan and see it adopted.
Planning officers have now officially submitted their request for examination to the Scottish Ministers and the submission package includes:
The Proposed City Plan 2030
Representations to the plan
Schedule 4 Reports (the Council’s response to the representations)
Supporting documents submitted with representations
Supporting documents to the proposed plan (appendices, maps etc.)
A Scottish Government reporter will then begin the process of reviewing the plan and schedule 4 reports and evaluating the responses from the Council. This process is expected to take close to a year.
City Plan 2030 has taken a lot of hard work to get to this stage, and we’re looking forward to bringing the plan to adoption.
City Plan is ambitious. It aims to ensure that the planning of housing, employment and services addresses the need for net-zero development, resilience to climate change, quality places and green spaces; to deliver community infrastructure and job opportunities where people live and to embed a 20-minute neighbourhood principle at the heart of all places in Edinburgh. City Plan 2030 will help to transform Edinburgh into a truly modern, vibrant, and sustainable place that is befitting of a capital city.
In 2021, Scottish Government legislation allowed councils to have a short-term let control area. In a control area, this means if that if a flat or a house, which is not the home you live in, is used for a short-term let, you will need planning permission.
Edinburgh was the first council in Scotland to apply for a short-term control area, which has now been in place since 5 September 2022 and covers the whole of the Council’s area.
The amount of STL accommodation has grown significantly in the last ten years and Edinburgh is recognised as an area that has greater pressures than other parts of the country.
Planning applications for STLs be assessed against the Local Development Plan along with the updated guidance and any other relevant material considerations.
Your responses will shape the final version of the guidance which we aim to have in place in early 2023.
From 1 October 2022 retrospective planning applications will be subject to a 25% surcharge
Reduced fees: some fees for not for profit or social enterprises can now receive a 25% discount
Below is a summary of the changes:
Retrospective Applications
A retrospective application is an application for planning permission for a development which has already commenced or has been completed without planning permission.
Retrospective applications often result from Enforcement enquiries but can also be the result of other factors. A surcharge on retrospective applications is being introduced to provide a means of recovering some of the costs of carrying out enforcement investigations.
From 1 October 2022, Edinburgh Council will be imposing the maximum 25% surcharge allowed by the regulations.
As an example, an average householder application for a summerhouse in retrospect, would mean the normal application fee of £300 plus a further 25% (£75).
If you are submitting a retrospective application, it is important that you highlight this at the time of submission.
The surcharge will not be calculated when an application is submitted on e-planning.scot. This is because e-planning is a national service which does not consider individual charges by local authorities. This will mean that the extra fee will be requested when your application is registered. If the required surcharge is not paid, your application will not be progressed to determination.
Reduced Fees
Starting immediately, Edinburgh Council will reduce the fee by 25% for applications which relates to development which
has the primary purpose of contributing to a not for profit or social enterprise
relates to development which is likely to contribute to improving the health of residents in the area to which the application relates.
Applications must meet both the above criteria to be considered for an exemption.
The amount levied will depend on the type of application. For example, a £300 fee would be reduced to £225.
The full statutory fee should be paid when the application is submitted. The Council will make a decision on receipt of an application as to whether a 25% reduction is applicable and will refund the applicant accordingly.
Prospective applicants should make clear in their supporting information if they are seeking a reduction in the application fee.
Clear justification should be given for why the applicant believes that a reduction in the fee is applicable.
Planning Edinburgh 
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