Cockburn Association

Planning document image

Planning document image

Planning document image

Planning document image

A change of use is proposed at 16-26 Forth Street, converting offices into an apart-hotel with extensions and courtyard works. https://city-scope.co.uk/26/00660/FUL

Saturday column: Shaping Gilmerton's heritage STAND in the heart of Gilmerton - in south-east Edinburgh - and you can still trace the outline of the old village.

Saturday column: Shaping Gilmerton's heritage
open.substack.com/pub/buildedi...

Hidden in Plain Sight: Women’s Stories Walking Tour - The Cockburn Association Hidden women’s histories shaping Edinburgh’s streets and stories

Hidden in Plain Sight 👣✨

Join Whips Tours + the Cockburn Association for a 90-minute Old Town walk uncovering the women who shaped Edinburgh’s historic environment.

🗓 8, 15 & 22 March
⏰ 10am

See the city differently — the stories were here all along.
www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/event/hidden...

Outcry from Edinburgh residents after short-term let flats approved - Deadline News Residents of the charming Claremont Crescent say they feel as if they have been “duped” by property developers.

Outcry from Edinburgh residents after short-term let flats approved www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2026/02/25/o... via @deadlinenews

I can think of one or two other redundant bowling greens in Scotland that could benefit from this kind of regeneration...

Map showing CCWEL route, with counter points marked. Michael Owen, an 89-year-old Edinburgh resident who uses his bike most days to stay fit, said: "I'm very supportive of improvements for cycling in the city. I'm approaching 90, and I use my bike to get local shopping most days. If it's a decent day I might add a mile or two onto my journey."

Cycling Scotland data report... In Edinburgh, a growing network of cycle lanes is also seeing more people choosing to travel by bike. Over the 48-hour survey period, traffic surveys recorded 4,744 bikes on Leith Walk. This was out of a total of 48,832 travel methods recorded, meaning that 9.7% of people cycled their journey – the highest cycling modal share yet seen on the route. On the western-most portion of the new City Centre West East Link (CCWEL), at West Coates in Roseburn, 2,798 bikes were recorded over the same 48-hour survey period. This was out of a total of 30,175 travel methods recorded on the street, equating to 9.3% of journeys being made by bike – a new record cycling modal share for this section of route. At York Place, where the new CCWEL protected cycle route connects to Leith Walk via Picardy Place, 1,921 cycle journeys were recorded over the two-day period. This is the largest number of bikes yet recorded at this location by a Cycling Scotland traffic survey and evidence of the growth in cycling being supported as routes join together.

👍 Nearly 10% of trips here already by 🚲

🙋 What would it be with the missing #GeorgeStreet link?

@edi.bike @sw20.info @edfoc.bsky.social @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @edcriticalmass.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @alastairdalton.bsky.social

In the news, w/e February 20 In today’s edition:

In the news, w/e February 20 open.substack.com/pub/buildedi...

What Edinburgh’s New Tourist Tax Means for the City - The Cockburn Association Tourism income must sustain the city it relies on

Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy will raise £90m+ in three years.

Tourism benefits the city — but will this fund protect heritage and support communities, or just fill budget gaps?

If done right, it could strengthen neighbourhoods for residents *and* visitors.

Read more:

tinyurl.com/y8cpbfs9

Notorious "eyesore” square to be revamped with visitor levy funds Edinburgh Council is set to sink millions earned from the tourist tax into a raft of projects focused on cleaning up Edinburgh’s Old Town.

Notorious “eyesore” square to be revamped as part of Edinburgh visitor levy Old Town clean-up www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2026/02/19/n... via @deadlinenews

Homeless people trained as guides lead 'Stay Like a Local' walking tours in Edinburgh Edinburgh’s Stay Like a Local campaign by Forever Edinburgh and Invisible Cities offers authentic city tours, local guides, hidden gems, and…

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2586846...

£4m Visitor Levy funding agreed for the Leith Links Masterplan We’re delighted to share that £4m of funding has been agreed for the Leith Links Masterplan 🎉 The project was included in the list of initiatives selected to receive Visitor Levy funding which was …

£4m Visitor Levy funding agreed for the Leith Links Masterplan leithactivity.org/2026/02/16/4...

Empty for nearly 60 years, a new chapter starts for one of Edinburgh’s heritage sites The former Royal High School in Edinburgh will become Scotland’s National Centre for Music, with Turner & Townsend leading the historic…

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2586522...

Historic Grassmarket memorial in Edinburgh has been restored after years of neglect The Covenanters Memorial in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, commemorating 17th-century Scottish Presbyterians, has been restored after a major…

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2586313...

Abandoned bowling green in Edinburgh's Leith to be revived with £4 million funding Leith Links Activity Park in Edinburgh to be transformed with £4m Visitor Levy funding, featuring a skatepark, climbing walls and community…

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2586254...

Thanks to everyone who joined for Richard Rodger's excellent talk on Edinburgh and @thecockburn.bsky.social at Riddle's Court last night.

More info coming soon about our next event in March, a deep-dive into Georgian furniture 🛋️

In the news, w/e February 13 In today’s edition:

In the news, w/e February 13
open.substack.com/pub/buildedi...

Appeal lodged over refusal of Scottish city centre's largest new homes site An appeal has been lodged over the refusal of hundreds of new homes in a  Scottish city.

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2584710...

Council steps up action to bring empty homes back into use In the last year, 81 privately owned empty properties have been brought back into use bringing the total since 2023 to 149.

Council steps up action to bring empty homes back into use www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article...

Edinburgh tourist tax to fund extra police and help tackle housing emergency From July 2026, Edinburgh will charge a 5% tax to visitors who come to the city and stay in hotels, B&Bs and Airbnb's

Edinburgh tourist tax to fund extra police and help tackle housing emergency news.stv.tv/east-central...

I think that the Royal Mile, Princes Street, Rose Street and George Street should all be pedestrian with caveats about deliveries/ buses.
We have an actual bus station - use it!
I work in George St and I think these plans often forget the number of people who live and work in the centre.

Campaigning for Edinburgh: The Cockburn Association 1875-2049 - Edinburgh World Heritage 12 February 2025

Last chance to buy tickets for this Thursday's event "Campaigning for Edinburgh: The Cockburn Association 1875-2049" @thecockburn.bsky.social ewh.org.uk/cockburn-tal...

Saturday column: For Princes Street, read also George Street and Rose Street AFTER the flurry of activity, the silence.

Saturday column: For Princes Street, read also George Street and Rose Street
open.substack.com/pub/buildedi...

Care and Repair in Edinburgh's Private Rental Sector: A Civic Challenge - The Cockburn Association Safe, dignified homes are fundamental to a healthy city

Edinburgh’s private rented sector is now a long-term reality for many residents. But disrepair, damp, and delayed repairs remain widespread — with real impacts on health, dignity, and the city’s historic housing fabric.

Repair isn’t optional.

www.cockburnassociation.org.uk/news/guest-b...

Edinburgh crowned Scotland's most desirable place to live in 2026 A new study names the best cities to live in the Britain, with Edinburgh and Glasgow taking the top spots in Scotland.

Edinburgh crowned Scotland's most desirable place to live in 2026 www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/opinion...

Council announces £793k funding programme from LEZ income - Deadline News THE City of Edinburgh Council has announced a programme of funding for “sustainable” projects from excess income raised by Edinburgh’s LEZ.

Council announces £793k funding programme from LEZ income www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2026/02/03/c... via @deadlinenews

In the news, w/e January 30 In today’s edition:

In the news, w/e January 30
open.substack.com/pub/buildedi...

Floating bus stops a 'severe danger' to people with sight loss, charity warns Campaigners warn so-called floating bus stops will create 'no-go areas' for the visually impaired

Floating bus stops a 'severe danger' to people with sight loss, charity warns news.stv.tv/east-central...

Millions in housing funds expected to go unspent in Edinburgh Nearly £60 million earmarked for building and purchasing new homes is forecast to go unused by the City of Edinburgh Council this year.

Millions in housing funds expected to go unspent in Edinburgh @ScotHousingNews www.scottishhousingnews.com/articles/mil...

Edinburgh completes first international repatriation to US mainland University returns six Muscogee Nation skulls after 150 years in what is believed to be first such repatriation to mainland United States.

Edinburgh completes first international repatriation to US mainland museumsandheritage.com/advisor/post...

Scottish restoration projects to receive £5.2m in bid to save threatened nature Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden has landed nearly £500k in major £5.2m drive to restore Scotland’s threatened nature

www.heraldscotland.com/news/2580352...