Tag: development

Planning Helpdesk and Weekly Lists – Christmas and New Year Arrangements

Our Planning Helpdesk (which operates as an email and call-back service) will be closed from 22 December 2025 and will reopen on 5 January 2026. Queries received over this time will be responded to when we re-open.

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

We have a wide range of planning quick guides aimed at householders – 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 quickest & easiest way to comment on planning applications is on the Planning Portal. When a comment is submitted 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 29 December 2025.

There will also be NO planning advertisement in the Edinburgh Evening News on the following dates:

  • Friday 26 December 2025
  • Friday 2 January 2026

The week commencing Monday 5 January 2026 will see things go back to normal – the helpdesk will re-open, with the weekly list issued & an advertisement on Friday 9 January 2026.

Full details of Council services at Christmas and New Year, including emergency contacts, can be found on our website.

Season’s Greeting to all our customers and wishing you a happy 2026.

New Code of Conduct for Responsible Construction

View from Calton Hil over central Edinburgh, with multiple cranes towering above the city.

The impact of construction is a key issue for local communities, leading to negative impacts on quality of life, complaints to the Council and potential disruption to worksites.

In response, the Council has drawn up a new Code of Conduct for constructors.

Whilst the Code of Conduct is not mandatory and will not be enforced, it does set out expectations and best practice for constructors as well as highlighting legal responsibilities governed by legislation and regulation. It is also intended to assist the construction industry in carrying out works safely, efficiently, responsibly and on time.

As a general rule noisy work from construction sites should usually only disturb you Monday to Saturday 7am to 7pm. There are some exemptions to this and other restrictions which may apply.

Good relations with neighbours and a clear communication strategy will greatly assist in reducing the impact of construction.

Disruption may be unavoidable, but the impact will be reduced if neighbouring occupiers are consulted and kept informed throughout the works. This may be through a residents’ association, community council, ward councillors or, preferably, directly with neighbours.

Please read our Code of Conduct for constructors for more information.

New Planning Guidance

A series of new and revised non-statutory planning guidance to provide additional information on the policies of City Plan 2030 and National Planning Framework 4 is now live.

They were approved by Planning Committee on 10 September 2025 and replace any previous versions of the guidance.

The guidance is provided to assist those considering proposals for development and will be used as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

The new guidance is listed below:

Edinburgh Design Guidance – this should be used for the planning and design of new development proposals and for street design.

Guidance for Householders  – this is for people considering altering or extending their home, and for professionals involved in the application process.

Guidance for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas – this is for anyone considering repairing, altering or extending a listed building or an unlisted building in a conservation area.

Student Accommodation Guidance – this is for professionals and developers involved in the provision of purpose-built student accommodation including new build, change of use and conversion.

Developer Contributions and Infrastructure Delivery Guidance – this will be used to assist in assessing planning applications including the provisions to include legal agreements requiring contributions towards delivering infrastructure associated with development.

You can see all our Planning Guidance and Planning Quick Guides here

RTPI Scotland Planning Awards for Excellence

Some (5) of the planning team standing and smiling holding the three awards.
Some of the planning team with the awards

We’re thrilled to announce that last week we secured the title of Scottish Planning Authority of the Year at this year’s Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Scotland Awards for Planning Excellence.

This fantastic accolade highlights the exceptional efforts of everyone in the service and celebrates their commitment to enhancing our community and making Edinburgh a wonderful place to live.

Additionally, Rowanbank Gardens, a housing development in Corstorphine, received a commendation in the Best Project category. It’s brilliant to see this project recognised for its quality and positive impact on the community, reinforcing our mission to create inclusive and vibrant neighbourhoods.

The crowning achievement was when the Edinburgh Futures Institute was named the overall winner.  This remarkable project, which saw the transformation of the former Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh at Quartermile, demonstrates the qualities of good planning and working in partnership.  It’s not just about the buildings; it’s about how we design spaces that uplift and engage our community.

These awards remind us that skilled planners and all those involved in the planning process are key to delivering these successful projects, and their hard work genuinely makes a difference in our daily lives.

As we look forward to the national RTPI awards in London later this year, we couldn’t be prouder of what the team has achieved.

In addition to these exciting achievements, we’re also celebrating our Building Standards team, who recently won the Local Authority Building Standards Scotland Awards for Customer Focus. This recognition underscores our ongoing commitment to excellence at the City of Edinburgh Council.

We want your views on our draft Planning Design Guidance – Consultation closing soon

We are currently updating some of our planning guidance documents and would like to hear your views on the new draft versions.

The online consultation closes next week on 3 April 2025.

Your views will help us finalise the updates to these guidance documents:

  • Front cover of Edinburgh Design Guidance, showing modern flats on a sunny day and greenspace in the foreground.
    Edinburgh Design Guidance – Guidance for design and placemaking in new developments. This is to make sure we have places that work well and create good places to live. (Photo courtesy of 7N Architects, © Leo Paredes Photography).
  • Front cover of Guidance for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas. Shows a mix of traditional and modern buildings on a sunny day with greenery in the foreground.
    Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas – Guidance to support works to a listed building or within a conservation area. This is to make sure we look after our historic buildings and places.
  • Front Cover of Guidance for Househilders, showing well-kept bungalows with hedgerows in front of them.
    Guidance for Householders – Guidance for development undertaken by individual householders. This includes work to existing houses and gardens.

You can view the draft-for-consultation documents here:

Edinburgh Design Guidance

Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Guidance

Guidance for Householders

You can comment on any or all of them online here.

In response to the National Planning Framework 4, City Plan 2030 and the City Mobility Plan, we have reviewed the guidance documents to make sure they align with the aims and outcomes of the plans.

We have also updated the draft guidance to respond to the climate and nature emergencies. This includes:

  • Minimising energy used in the construction, maintenance and use of buildings.
  • Adapting to the changing climate, including sustainable drainage.
  • Supporting biodiversity and good green space.
  • Enabling sustainable transport.

Our advice on how we make spaces safer for everyone has also been updated.

All three consultations are open until 3 April 2025.