Edinburgh Skyline Study

Edinburgh’s iconic skyline forms an essential part of the character and appearance of the city. Over the coming years, the city is expected to experience significant levels of growth, particularly in the waterfront areas. Additionally, in order to protect the green belt and make the most of urban land, increased building densities are expected.

In the light of this and the international revival in the fashion for tall buildings, it is important to ensure that there are policies and guidelines in place to protect the city’s unique skyline

To this end, in 2005 Landscape consultants Colvin & Moggridge were appointed to review the existing planning policy guidance and to put forward proposals for new guidance. Their report contains a thorough analysis of Edinburgh’s skyline, identifying the essential features that make up Edinburgh’s identity and key views to those features. It developed a methodology to allow the impact of any new development on those views to be assessed.

On 5th October 2006, the Edinburgh Skyline Report was presented to the planning committee, who agreed it should be subject to public consultation. Consultation on key views and essential features took place over 9 weeks, and included a touring exhibition that visited key shopping destinations, Council Offices, and Edinburgh Central Library, as well as holding events for community representatives and organisations. The consultation concluded with a debate in the National Museums lecture theatre at the end of June 2007

The consultation received a positive response, with strong public support for the protection of the skyline. The findings of the consultation and the three additional key views it identified were presented to the Planning Committee on 4th October 2007 (report). All 38 key views identified were formally approved by the Committee, making them a Material Consideration in determining applications.

Next Steps

Following on from this, an additional study of views to and from the waterfront was undertaken, and draft Guideline for the Protection of Key Views prepared. These were approved for consultation purposes by the Council’s Planning Committee on 28^th February 2008 (report). The consultation on the draft guidelines and additional key views ran for 6 weeks, and included a public debate at the Point Hotel on 7^th April.

The finalised Guideline was approved by the Planning Committee on Thursday 19^th June 2008, making it a component of the Development Management Guidelines and a Material Consideration in the determination of applications.

In addition to the supplementary planning guidance, a GIS mapping tool will be developed, which will identify where proposed developments would intrude into a key view.

Relevant documents:

Approved Guideline on the Protection of Key Views (pdf, 370kb)
Report to committee and consultation responses 19.06.08 (pdf 2458kb)

Hard copies of all reports are available on request.

Skyline Poster (602 kB)