Plans to construct the Edinburgh Marina, a £500 million mixed-use neighbourhood in Granton harbour, could be refused because developers neglected flood prevention measures.
The proposal is part of Edinburgh’s waterfront regeneration program targeting its northern docklands. These communities are among the most deprived in the city, and thoughtful gentrification promises revitalisation.
Similar projects in Leith, for example, have been successful. A local student commented that the new development has been “really, really good” for his neighbourhood. The student thinks the model could work in Granton if it accommodated affordable housing.
The Marina would achieve this by replacing an empty lot along the harbour with 81 new housing units of varying sizes, commercial spaces, and other amenities, “supporting the regeneration of strategic sites along the Forth waterfront,” according to a city council report.
Nevertheless, the same report ultimately suggests refusing the Marina’s planning permission at an upcoming council meeting. According to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Granton “has a risk of coastal and surface water flooding,” expected to increase through climate change.
The report concludes that the developer’s plan fails to “address future resilience to flooding risks.” Whether Granton can continue the success of Edinburgh’s waterfront regeneration remains to be seen.
“View of Edinburgh’s Harbour from Arthurs Seat” by KateJBurt is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.