Tag: local place plan

Share Your Views on the Astley Ainslie Place Brief

Front Cover of the draft Astley Ainslie Place Brief, dated September 2026. Image is of a mature tree and grass, with low rise hospital buildings in the background. It has a green/sepia filter over it.

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.

Our Consultation is now live until 11 November 2026.

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 Ainslee hospital buildings on a sunny day with a variety of trees and grass in the foreground.

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

Local Place Plans

We are pleased that we have registered our second Local Place Plan which covers Midmar Paddock which was submitted by the Friends of Midmar Paddock.

You can see the Midmar Paddock Local Place Plan and the Wester Hailes Local Place Plan on our Register.

Midmar Paddock from Blackford Hill (Photo by Friends of Midmar Paddock)
Midmar Paddock from Blackford Hill (Photo by Friends of Midmar Paddock)

There are many other Local Place Plans in progress throughout the City. However, there is still time for community groups to produce Local Place Plans. Our deadline to register a Local Place Plan is June 2026.

Local Place Plans are community-led plans which outline a community’s vision and proposals for their area. Registered Local Place Plans will be taken into account when we prepare City Plan 2040.

There is more information on our webpages but if you are interested in producing a Local Place Plans, you should contact us via cityplan2040@edinburgh.gov.uk and we would be happy to have chat with you.