Edinburgh’s Environment :
State of the Environment Audit
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.
By looking at the city’s environment in the round, it shows how diverse issues such as flooding, biodiversity, human health, air quality and open space provision are in fact intimately related. It also emphasises how investment in a high quality environment contributes to key objectives of sustainable economic growth and community cohesion. Edinburgh’s internationally renowned environment has been a key driver of its economic success. However, this success is a double-edged sword which imposes a number of strains on the environment. The Audit highlights a number of areas where future efforts need to be re-doubled.
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 (PDF, 822kb)
2 Summary conclusions and findings (PDF, 353kb)
Human pressures
3 Population and housing (PDF, 798kb)
4 Economic trends and development pressures (PDF, 624kb)
5 Travel and transport (PDF, 591kb)
6 Spatial development patterns and urban structure (PDF, 497kb)
7 Energy production and consumption (PDF, 527kb)
8 Environmental footprints (PDF, 667kb)
9 Waste and recycling (PDF, 505kb)
Natural setting
10 Climate (PDF, 244kb)
11 Topography (PDF, 855kb)
12 Geology and minerals (PDF, 790kb)
13 Soils and agriculture (PDF, 662kb)
Natural heritage and open space
14 Biodiversity (PDF, 309kb)
15 Natural heritage designations (PDF, 826kb)
16 Urban green space (PDF, 506kb)
17 Trees and woodland (PDF, 666kb)
18 Pest infestations (PDF, 510kb)
Water quality and flooding
19 Water supply and drinking water quality (PDF, 798kb)
20 River water quality (PDF, 302kb)
21 Coastal and bathing water quality (PDF, 250kb)
22 River flow and flooding (PDF, 996kb)
23 Coastal flooding (PDF, 360kb)
Air quality and land quality
24 Air quality (PDF, 681kb)
25 Contaminated land (PDF, 384kb)
26 Vacant and derelict land (PDF, 501kb)
Civic environment
27 Built heritage (PDF, 716kb)
Appendix A - Designated Conservation Areas in Edinburgh (PDF, 39kb)
Appendix B - Scheduled Ancient Monuments (PDF, 26kb)
Appendix C - Map of Built Heritage Designations (PDF, 295kb)
28 Public realm (PDF, 829kb)
29 Street cleanliness (PDF, 606kb)
30 Noise and vibration (PDF, 899kb)
31 Light pollution (PDF, 555kb)
Human welfare
32 Human health (PDF, 625kb)
33 Community safety and crime (PDF, 537kb)
APPENDICES
A Provisional environmental indicators (PDF, 353kb)
B Sources and further information (with web links)
organisations (PDF, 330kb)
documents (PDF, 219kb)
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
City Development Department
City of Edinburgh Council
