8. MITIGATION MEASURES PROPOSED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT WHICH HAVE BEEN ADOPTED BY THE WEST EDINBURGH PLANNING FRAMEWORK
A number of mitigation measures have been suggested through the Environmental Report and the views expressed through the public consultation.
Opportunities for mitigation and enhancement will be formulated and enhanced via the hierarchy of legislation, policy, advice, development plans. The development potential and implementation process realised through the West Edinburgh Planning Framework will be administers through the West Edinburgh Development Partnership, as a successor to the West Edinburgh Steering Group. The West Edinburgh Partnership will take a holistic overview of the locale and if deemed necessary will commission the production of specific master plans, design strategies, landscape analysis, etc will be guided by the legislative, policy and advice hierarchy described above and will form material considerations on individual planning applications.
In general the West Edinburgh Planning Framework 2008 advocates a specific vision for realisation of the development potential in the West Edinburgh locale and has embraced a number of Strategic Environmental Assessment objectives.
Specific measures adopted through the West Edinburgh Planning Framework 2008 are:-
- An integrated, diverse and comprehensive transport and access strategy providing a range and choice of transport modes. Specific measures proposed include:-
i) the introduction of a strategic walking and cycling network within West Edinburgh, along the A8, within master plans and within a green space network to provide an integrated and sustainable access framework
ii) the delivery of a rail station in the vicinity of Gogar and the Dalmeny Rail chord
iii) the delivery of the Edinburgh Tram link into the West Edinburgh locale serving the new railway station, the existing Ingliston Park and Ride facility and the proposed development sites
iv) a high quality public transport interchange at the new railway station providing an interchange between the public transport initiatives
v) provision of the both the tram and railway station prior to any international business development being occupied.
vi) in order to compliment the public transport initiatives and as part of a sustainable transport package, construction of such new road accesses to the area and adaptation of existing road accesses as the transport appraisal process may determine to improve access to the airport, Scotland's National Showground and the international Business Gateway.
vii) to develop detailed alignments for such infrastructure that will have the least possible adverse effect upon the environment and on specific development sites
viii) compliment the walking, cycling and public transport investment with the management of road capacity, parking availability and the setting of robust mode share targets for all new developments
ix) promote an Article 4 Direction to remove the permitted development rights in respect of car parking provision at Edinburgh Airport. This measure will give greater control over surface access solutions and to encourage a managed and holistic approach to vehicular traffic accessing and egressing the airport.
i) instigate a master plan for Scotland's National Showground to maximise opportunities for public transport access and to mitigate any impacts upon Scheduled Ancient Monuments and Listed Buildings to the satisfaction of Historic Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council
ii) instigate master plans for the identified International Business Gateway with fully integrated walking cycling and public transport infrastructure within a green space network and provisions for the protection and management of Scheduled Ancient Monument at Gogar Mains Farm and the setting of the A Listed Gogar Castle to the satisfaction of Historic Scotland
iii) improvement of the overall visual, urban design, architectural, landscape, water environment, ecological and heritage value of West Edinburgh to reflect its status as a high visibility national gateway including development of the design parameters in terms of height, scale density, footprint and overall volume of development
iv) environmental enhancement of the Gogar Burn, proposals for the future of the Gogar Burn with potential restoration and diversion schemes and the provision of new or altered flood control and retention measures.