council depot at inverleith

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Item noReport no

Council Depot at Inverleith

Policy and Strategy Committee

4 October 2011

1 Purpose of report

1.1 This report is prepared in response to a motion by Councillors Hinds and Whytewhich asked for the current position to be set out with regard to the proposal todispose of the Council depot at Inverleith; the planning status of the land, andthe details of any community consultation undertaken or planned on theproposal for the sale of the depot.

2 Summary

2.1 No decision has been made on the sale of Inverleith depot.

2.2 Due to the expiry of the lease at the Council depot at Baileyfield, options for thedepot adjacent to Inverleith Park are being considered as part of a Council-wide depot rationalisation programme.

2.3 A business case and space planning exercise for depot rationalisation byServices for Communities, is currently being undertaken. Once completed, andthe depot at Inverleith potentially declared surplus, a report with arecommendation will be made to Council. No further action will be taken toprogress the disposal in the meantime.

2.4 The receipt from a sale of the site at Inverleith depot may require to be re-invested in creating an adequate replacement facility, probably at Inch Park.

3 Main report

Planning Status

3.1 The Inverleith depot is in need of major upgrading and investment. The expiryof the lease and subsequent closure of the Baileyfield depot, in 2012, offers anopportunity to consolidate a number of existing Parks depot operations at theInch Park site. This will require upgrading to provide a fit-for-purpose facility.The funding for any upgrading of the Inch Park site would come from the capitalreceipt from the Inverleith site.

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6PS/26/11-12/CD



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3.2 The depot at Inverleith (circa 2.93 acres) is shown on the attached location plan(Appendix 1) along with an aerial photograph (Appendix 2). The depotcomprises several storage sheds and buildings, including a former farmhouse.The depot site has a largely tarmacadam surface. The site is the originalInverleith farm, dating back to 1877, and has been developed over the years toform one of the Council’s park maintenance depots. The depot is separate fromthe Park.

3.3 The Edinburgh City Local Plan (ECLP), adopted in January 2010, does notclassify the depot site as ‘open space’. The site was removed from the openspace designation in order to accord with the definition set out in the ScottishGovernment Planning Advice Note 65. The open space strategy draft reportwas finalised after extensive consultation. The change to the ECLP wasadvertised in full accordance with the relevant regulations. The Council’s OpenSpace Strategy was adopted in September 2010 and identifies Inverleith Parkas requiring improvement. This document was approved in draft in February2010 for consultation and a workshop held locally in April.

Community consultation

3.4 The Inverleith Park Management Plan, prepared by Services for Communitieswith the Friends of Inverleith Park, identifies specific improvements to be madeto the Park (potentially to be funded by Section 75 developer contributions).

3.5 In 2010, GVA were appointed to advise the Council on the planning aspects ofthis project. GVA have developed a proposal for a high quality, low density

residential development. This involves the demolition of the existing depotbuilding. Seven low height/density residential units would subsequently beconstructed which would improve the views of the Edinburgh skyline relative tothe existing depot buildings. A new pedestrian access route would also becreated from Aboretum Place. GVA’s involvement has now reached itsconclusion. If and when a decision is reached on disposal of the site the advicereceived by GVA will require to be evaluated in light of market conditions at thattime and the Council will wish to consider at that stage whether achieving acapital receipt from disposal represents the best value option.

3.6 The Council held a one day public exhibition on the GVA proposals inSeptember 2010. This event was advertised in the Evening News and by wayof posters around the area with invitations sent directly to 21 stakeholdergroups and 403 properties. An internal Council exhibition was also held on theday with relevant councillors, departmental heads and officials invited. Themain public exhibition ran from 2.00 pm – 8.00 pm and 132 people attended.

3.7 Exhibition boards were displayed at Stockbridge Library from 23 -28 September2010 and further comments invited. Additional feedback was invited following apresentation to Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council, on 20 October2010.

3.8 There has been significant local opposition to the proposal for sale expressedthrough the “Save Inverleith Park” campaign group, including an 8000 signaturepetition.



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Next Stages

3.9 The next stages of the process will be the completion of a business case andspace planning exercise for depot rationalisation by the Services for

Communities. This process is likely to be delayed until the outcome of theCouncil’s Alternative Business Model (ABM) process is known as this will affectthe number of personnel to be accommodated. Following completion of theABM exercise, a report will be made to the Council recommending a depotrationalisation programme, including the potential disposal of the Inverleithdepot.

3.10 No further action will be taken to progress the disposal until the ABM processhas been concluded, the current space planning exercise has been completed,a report made to Council and the site formally declared as surplus.

4 Financial Implications

4.1 The city depot rationalisation programme is intended to provide efficiencyimprovements and will contribute to the Council’s overall requirement to makerevenue savings.

4.2 The funding required for the depot rationalisation, including improvements tothe Inch Park depot would come from the capital receipt from the sale of theInverleith depot.

5 Environmental Impact

5.1 Rationalisation of the depots across the city will present opportunities for moresustainable operations. The sale of the depot site, if ultimately approved by theCouncil, would allow much needed improvements to be carried out withinInverleith Park including a direct link from the Water of Leith path into the Parkand an extension of the play area.

6 Conclusions

6.1 The information given in this report discharges the Council motion. Until thebusiness case and space planning exercise has been completed, a report

made to Council and the site formally declared as surplus no further action willbe taken to progress the disposal of the depot site.

7 Recommendations

7.1 The Policy and Strategy Committee is asked to note the contents of this report.

Dave AndersonDirector of City Development



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Appendices 1 Location Plan

2 Aerial Photograph

Contact/tel/Email Alistair McArthur - 529 5928 [email protected]

Wards affected 5 - Inverleith

Single OutcomeAgreement

National Agreement 10 - We live in well-designed,sustainable places where we are able to access theamenities and services we need

Outcome: An upgraded depot facility will provide a more efficient

delivery of park maintenance

National Agreement 12 - We value and enjoy our built andnatural environment and protect it and enhance it forfuture generations

Outcome: An upgraded facility will better protect and enhance theCouncil parkland and open space

Appendixes 1. Inverleith park map showing Depot outlined in red2. Aerial showing Inverleith Park and Depot outlined in red

BackgroundPapers

Members’ Briefing 1 February 2011Economic Development Committee Report 12 October 2010Finance & Resources Committee Report 26 October 2010

council depot at inverleith

Documents