All along the waterfront…but not for 30 years

Published on Wednesday 26 August 2009 22:10

THE first section of a continuous "promenade" along Edinburgh's waterfront has been unveiled – but it may be 30 years before it is finally completed.

Five years after the idea was mooted by the city council, a one-kilometre stretch has been created for walkers and cyclists between Silverknowes and Granton. It is the first of 20 different sections to be added to existing parts of the waterfront.

It is hoped the "Edinburgh Promenade" project will encourage the addition of a host of new works of art, visitor attractions, wildlife havens and parks, picnic areas and public squares.

However, creating the entire 16.8km (10.5-mile) route on its own is expected to cost more than 50 million to deliver and will rely on landowners and property developers agreeing to accommodate the promenade and help pay for it.

It is thought the economic downturn has put some sections back by between five and ten years. Many large-scale developments along the shore have been put on hold indefinitely in the wake of the housing market crash, while Forth Ports is expected to keep Leith's docks operating for a further 20 years. Uncertainty over how much of the waterfront will be covered by the tram system has also held up progress.

However, the council insists the property downturn could end up benefiting the promenade projects, as construction firms vie to be involved.

The first section has seen a 200,000 walkway and cycleway created on what was an old dirt track on the foreshore at Gypsy Brae, near Silverknowes. Work on the next section, which will link the one unveiled yesterday with developments at Granton Harbour, will start next year.

Tom Buchanan, economic development leader at the city council, said: "For years, Edinburgh has been proud of its Green Belt, but many people are unaware of what its waterfront has to offer. The Edinburgh Promenade will offer people of all ages the opportunity to enjoy a walk, run or cycle along the sea-front and to enjoy the wonderful views across to Fife.

"Beyond that, it is a key element in our plans to make the city's waterfront an attractive and high-quality destination and, through increasing visitor numbers to the area, we expect to bring an additional 12m per year to the city and create over 1,000 new jobs.

"The project is obviously going to require developers and landowners to work with the council, but the main reason it's going to take so long to finish is that the middle section at Leith Docks isn't now likely to be available for development for another 20 years because the port will still be operational."

Steve McGavin, project manager for the Edinburgh Promenade initiative, said: "The idea is to create 20 new destination points along the waterfront and use them to work with landowners and developers to encourage different attractions and features.

"We've been looking at how this kind of thing works elsewhere in the UK, but Fife has already got something like 140 kilometres of coastline linked up all the way from St Andrews to Culross. The idea is that you create a lot more than just a new route for walkers and cyclists."