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City Policies and Strategies

Here’s a list of the policies and strategies that matter for Corstorphine in Bloom, how they fit together, and what you can use each one for.

The policy stack (top → local)

1) Scotland-wide policy (sets the rules everyone must follow)

  • National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) – especially Policy 3: Biodiversity (positive effects for biodiversity + strengthening Nature Networks) and Policy 15: Local Living/20-minute neighbourhoods (placemaking and active travel). These underpin funding bids and design choices for nature corridors and pollinator routes. (Scottish Government)
  • Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045 – “Nature Positive by 2030” and nature recovery targets; used to show national alignment in bids and reports. (Scottish Government)
  • Pollinator Strategy for Scotland – national direction + annual progress reports; helpful for justifying meadow/planter choices. (nature.scot)

2) City strategy (Edinburgh-wide direction and delivery)

  • 2030 Climate Strategy – the city’s net-zero plan; points to greening, nature-based solutions and blue-green infrastructure. Use it to frame climate benefits of your projects. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  • Edinburgh’s Thriving Green Spaces (ETGS) 2050 Vision & Implementation – the long-term parks/greenspace strategy and its action plan (Culture & Communities Committee). This is the city’s delivery route for greener management, meadows, community stewardship, etc. (consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk)
  • Edinburgh Living Landscape (ELL) – the partnership programme (SWT, Council, ELGT, RBGE, etc.) that delivers practical projects (meadows, relaxed mowing, street-edge planting). Great for partnership language and case studies. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  • Edinburgh Nature Network (ENN) – the map and action list that shows where connections should happen; includes public “Opportunity/Interactive Map” and Action Log. This is the best place to anchor Corstorphine corridor proposals. (Thriving Greenspaces)
  • Open Space Strategy (Open Space 2021) – protects and grows the greenspace network; useful evidence for accessibility, equity and health arguments. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  • Trees in the City (tree management policies) – how council trees/woodlands are managed; cite when proposing hedge/tree elements or working near trees. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  • Grass-cutting standards (Our Nature Estate) – explains relaxed mowing and meadow maintenance cycles; useful for expectations with residents. (Thriving Greenspaces)

3) Local rules & permissions (what you may need to apply for)

  • Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 – Section 56 consent – required for anything placed on, in or under a public road (planters in the carriageway/footway, etc.). Coordinate with Roads Authority. (Legislation.gov.uk)
  • Advertisements & sponsorship guidance – Council planning guidance implements the Town & Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (Scotland) Regs 1984); relevant for sponsor plaques/signs on planters. (Note: the Council also has a separate, stricter policy on fossil-fuel/SUV/cruise ads on its own estate.) (democracy.edinburgh.gov.uk)
  • Park & Greenspace Management Rules – what’s allowed in parks and how to get permissions/events; a 2025 revision is in consultation. Useful for activities, signage in parks, and volunteer days. (The City of Edinburgh Council)

How they fit together (one-minute version)

  • NPF4 sets national planning duties: new works should enhance biodiversity and strengthen Nature Networks; neighbourhood projects that enable local living are encouraged. (Scottish Government)
  • The city translates that into delivery via Climate Strategy 2030, Thriving Green Spaces 2050, ELL and the mapped ENN opportunities and actions. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  • Local rules govern how you implement (permissions for planters in the road, acceptable advertising on sponsorship plaques, and what’s allowed in parks). (Legislation.gov.uk)

Think of it as: NPF4 (why & must-dos) → City strategies (where & how) → Local permissions (doing it right).

What this means for Corstorphine in Bloom (practical uses)

  1. Design your corridor projects off the ENN map
    Pick actions like CO019–CO022 / EN043 (Corstorphine Hill ↔ Water of Leith/ Ravelston links, wildlife-friendly gardens) and show how your planters, pocket meadows, hedges or rain-gardens plug the “gaps”. This directly evidences NPF4 Policy 3 delivery. (Thriving Greenspaces)
  2. Reference city strategies in bids & committee papers
    Quote “delivers Edinburgh’s 2030 Climate Strategy (nature-based solutions)” and “aligns with Thriving Green Spaces 2050 & Edinburgh Living Landscape”. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  3. Pick planting/maintenance that matches Council standards
    Use ELL factsheets for species/management and grass-cutting standards to set expectations with neighbours about meadow timing. (The City of Edinburgh Council)
  4. Sort permissions early
  1. Explain the ‘why’ in plain English
    Link benefits to NPF4/Scottish Biodiversity Strategy (nature recovery, pollinators, climate resilience), and to Open Space 2021 (health, access). These are good for public-facing pages and consultations. (Scottish Government)

Handy links (for your web page / committee pack)

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