Development Activity Monitoring

Baseline Report, May 2008

(approved by Planning Committee 15th May 2008)

The State of the Environment Audit brings together a wide range of evidence on recent environmental trends and pressures in the City of Edinburgh, and presents some tentative indicators so that future progress can be monitored. Drawing mainly on published sources it provides a resource both to assist Council staff undertaking Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), and to inform wider public debate on local environmental issues.

The Audit comprises 33 chapters plus appendices. Due to its size it is not available in a composite version, but it can be downloaded chapter at a time by clicking on the links in the contents list below.

 

Contents : click on individual chapter links below to view

Overview
1 Introduction
2 Summary conclusions and findings

Human pressures
3 Population and housing 
4 Economic trends and development pressures 
5 Travel and transport 
6 Spatial development patterns and urban structure 
7 Energy production and consumption 
8 Environmental footprints 
9 Waste and recycling 
   Waste and recycling - update 2011

Natural setting
10 Climate 
11 Topography 
12 Geology and minerals 
13 Soils and agriculture 

Natural heritage and open space
14 Biodiversity 
     Biodiversity - update 2011
15 Natural heritage designations 
     Natural heritage designations - update 2011
16 Urban green space 
17 Trees and woodland 
18 Pest infestations 

Water quality and flooding
19 Water supply and drinking water quality 
     Water supply and drinking water quality - update 2012
20 River water quality 
     River water quality - update 2012
21 Coastal and bathing water quality
     Coastal and bathing water quality - update 2012 
22 River flow and flooding 
     River flow and flooding - updated 2012
23 Coastal flooding 
     Coastal flooding - update 2012

Air quality and land quality
24 Air quality
     Air quality - update 2011
25 Contaminated land 
26 Vacant and derelict land 

Civic environment
27 Built heritage
     Built heritage - update 2011
     Appendix A - Designated Conservation Areas in Edinburgh 
     Appendix B - Scheduled Ancient Monuments 
     Appendix C - Map of Built Heritage Designations 
28 Public realm 
29 Street cleanliness 
30 Noise and vibration
     Noise and vibration - update 2011
31 Light pollution 

Human welfare
32 Human health
33 Community safety and crime

APPENDICES
A Provisional environmental indicators 
B Sources and further information (with web links)
   documents

 

Mapping
All mapping in this report has been produced under license using Ordnance Survey base maps, with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Ordnance Survey mapping is protected by Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. City of Edinburgh Council License no. 100023420

 

Please note :
The information in this report is intended as an introductory guide only. Given the all-encompassing nature of the environment, it can not claim to be anything other than this.

Whilst reasonable care has been taken in the compilation of data and other material, no assurance can be provided that it is fully accurate, comprehensive or up-to-date. Some environmental information may have a relatively short 'shelf life' as a result of ongoing monitoring and research, and the introduction of new investigative techniques. Furthermore, all data need to be interpreted with great care, paying particular attention to definitions, sources, reliability and significance.

Users are always advised to consult original sources and specialists in each relevant field when considering information which is critical to a project or study. To facilitate this, the report includes a wealth of web links to original documentation and key contact details within the City of Edinburgh Council.

The authors would welcome feedback and input from users, particularly regarding other sources of environmental monitoring information which become available relating specifically to Edinburgh.

Graeme Gainey (editor)
Christine McKirdy
Simon Antrobus
Alistair Harvey
Sarah Hartop
Lindsay Robertson
David Slee
Tony Moore

Planning Information Team
Services for the Communities
City of Edinburgh Council