Last updated: October 2021
Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening project transformed a vacant development site in Craigmillar which is reserved for a new high school, not scheduled to be built until late 2020, into a temporary green space. The site is at the centre of the wider Craigmillar regeneration area, adjacent to the newly-built Community Hub and neighbouring plots at varying stages of development. EDI's PARC Craigmillar Ltd is responsible for the regeneration in Craigmilar, working in partnership with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) and the City of Edinburgh Council. The initiative will create a meanwhile space for community use, while works begin on the town centre development. The greening will allow the area to become an active space for the local community to enjoy and ease the construction process. Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening forms part of a wider plan for the redevelopment of Craigmillar Town Centre. The masterplan, which was approved in December 2014, includes 330 homes, a retail centre, restaurant, community play area and high school – where the temporary greenspace will be situated until building commences. (ref 1, 3)
Craigmillar Town Center temporary greening (2012)
Charlie Cumming, retrieved 08/15/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Community gardens and allotments
- Horticulture
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Improving mental health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
1. The new initiative aims to create a meanwhile space for community use on the reserved school site while there no development on it.
2. Plans for the project include a grassed area, an upgrade to the existing paths along the new woodland area, an orchard and a hazel and wood copse growing area.
3. Conversion of vacant and derelict land into beneficial use and encourage regeneration.
4. Improve the amount of accessible green space in urban areas available for health and well being.
5. Increasing woodland cover in line with SFS targets - The Scottish Forestry Strategy.
6. Reducing the effect of climate change via carbon capture through tree planting.
7. Investment in green infrastructure.
8. Creation of habitats through greening interventions (ref 1, 3).
Implementation activities
1. Creation of 1,200m2 of permanent woodland.
2. Creation of 3,250m2 temporary, fast growing woodland/coppicing for landscaping and community use providing a range of opportunities.
3. Creation of 268m of new footpath, creating new active travel routes.
4. Enhancement of 80m existing footpath.
5. A seating area adjacent to the ‘town square’ and temporary orchard, and also seating within the wildflower meadow planting area.
6. Grassland improvements - wildflower meadow planting over 9,840m2 on what is currently self-seeded grass on future development plots where the previous buildings were demolished.
7. Temporary creation of the 1,067m2 ‘town square’ including 11 tree standards in planters and the creation of a temporary orchard with 20 orchard trees over 600m2 in planters – both areas providing a more formalised urban realm setting. (ref 1)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project is being implemented by the Urban Regeneration Company PARC with the City of Edinburgh Council. The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust is also in partnership - to develop detailed designs and proposals for the greening of 3 vacant and/or derelict sites at Granton and Craigmillar. (ref 3, 5)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Increasing woodland cover in line with SFS targets : The Scottish Forestry Strategy (ref 1)
)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
- Private Foundation/Trust
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Enhanced carbon sequestration
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
References
1. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (2016). 2015-16 Project Report - Project Name Craigmillar Town Centre
temporary greening. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
2. Central Scotland Green Network. Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
3. Central Scotland green network. (2010). Greening Vacant and Derelict Land in Edinburgh. Accessed: Source link. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
temporary greening. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
2. Central Scotland Green Network. Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening. Available at: Source link. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
3. Central Scotland green network. (2010). Greening Vacant and Derelict Land in Edinburgh. Accessed: Source link. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.