Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan

Planning Performance Framework 2019-2020

On 31 July we submitted our ninth Planning Performance Framework to Scottish Government.

Since 2012, all Scottish planning authorities have prepared an annual PPF – they’re used by Scottish Government to gauge how a planning authority’s performing against a national toolkit of statistical and quality measures.

PPF 2019-2020 reviews the activity and performance of the Council’s Planning service between April 2019 and March 2020. It looks at the quality of outcomes on the ground, how well we’ve engaged customers and communities, our governance arrangements and how we’re embedding a culture of continuous improvement.

Fourteen case studies are highlighted, including: ‘Choices’ – City Plan 2030’s main issues report; the conversion of the former House of Fraser store on Princes Street to the Johnnie Walker Experience; the Granton Waterfront Development Framework; the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan; and our new paid-for pre-application advice service.

The Covid-19 pandemic and its effect on how we deliver our service impacted right at the end of this year’s PPF period but it’s sure to feature heavily in next year’s submission.

Edinburgh – a natural capital

Every three years, all public bodies in Scotland report to the Scottish Government on how they’re meeting the legal requirement to further the conservation of biodiversity. Our report sets out how we’ve looked after our valuable natural environment and worked with partner organisations to improve our green and blue spaces for nature.

Examples of the type of work include:

policy work to incorporate the natural environment in the Edinburgh Adapts climate change programme
site management changes across Council-owned parks to increase natural areas and meadows
community projects such as food growing projects, which have wider health and social benefits as well as increasing biodiversity
education, communication and professional in-house training are other related activities to highlight the importance of protecting and improving biodiversity.

Working with the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership, the Council also supports work to look after some of our rarer species and habitats.

The report and the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-18 are also available on our website.

Edinburgh Biodiversity

Emma’s Blog Post #2: Edinburgh Biodiversity

Now, I’m sure you’re all aware of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan 2016-18 produced by the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership… but just in case you aren’t, I’ll quickly fill you in; it was published in summer, and lists a number of actions that could and should be taken at specific sites to help support biodiversity. Go read it.

Anyway, recently the progress report for the Action Plan was published, and it shows some pretty decent results; 89% of the actions are in progress or completed. Not only has work been done to create meadows and increase grassland, but also encourage wildlife to thrive in the built environment, too. Stuff like using Swift Bricks – fake bricks in the side of buildings that birds can nest in.

Go look at the things the Partnership is doing, or do indeed send the people involved a question, keep them on their toes: biodiversity@edinburgh.gov.uk

Emma