#PrincesStreet👍
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spokes.org.uk
#PrincesStreet #Edinwebcast

👍 Amendment passed, voting 7-4

👍 Fantastic news! Transport & wider considerations must now be incorporated in the strategy

This might not have happened without long-term effort/persistence by Spokes & the visionary/technical expertise of Richard Murphy architects
Crucial parts of the successful amendment 4. notes the interventions made by some which seek to place a greater emphasis on placemaking and respecting the transport hierarchy. 5. therefore, agrees not to adopt the strategy at this stage. 6. instead agrees that officers should seek to convene an elected member/officer/stakeholder workshop that brings together those with transport, culture, heritage and placemaking expertise so a more ambitious and exciting strategy can be brought forward for approval. Moved by: Cllr Hal Osler Seconded by: Cllr Kevin Lang Pictures showing type of vision proposed by Richard Murphy, with 2 bus/tram lanes, bike lanes and much wider footways. This type of solution will now - hopefully - get serious consideration Start of the Spokes submission http://www.spokes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/251112-CEC-PLANNING-COMMITTEE-SPOKES-Deputation-princes-st.pdf CEC PLANNING COMMITTEE, 12.11.25 - written deputation from Spokes 7.3 Non-Statutory Planning Guidance – Finalised Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy The proposed draft guidance, whilst including many worthwhile proposals, has one over-riding failing, in that it completely neglects the huge area of land occupied by roadway, and assumes it must stay as now. It is as if we have separate Planning and Transport departments rather than a unified Place department. This cannot be the right approach for a holistic view of Princes Street and the Waverley Valley. Nor is it right that large amounts of money should be invested without the whole area being considered in a unified manner. The earlier, consultation, proposals were widely criticised by the West End and New Town Community Councils, by internationally renowned Richard Murphy architects, and others for lacking ambition and imagination. Nor did they go anywhere near the recommendations of the Council's commissioned report by urban designer Jan Gehl, way back in 2010, who identified "cycle and pedestrian priority" and reduced vehicle presence as "essential" for Princes Street to achieve its "huge potential." Sadly, the draft Guidance document presented today shows little change in these respects. It fails to live up to what is expected in the heart of a modern European capital. Richard Murphy Architects have put forward the sort of approach which takes these issues seriously (website; full report) and looks at how the entire area, including the roadway, can be transformed into a place catering properly for walking, wheeling and cycling, together with effective tram and bus services, and with much greater scope for enjoying the incredible setting of Scotland's premier street. In particular, Murphy points out how much of the Princes Street roadspace is currently just e…
November 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
spokes.org.uk
#PrincesStreet

🙋 Think again, Edinburgh!
-> www.spokes.org.uk/2025/07/prin...

🤔 Even the Council's own report says it could be "more aspirational"

👍 New #RichardMurphy plans show how Council could reduce vehicle dominance and cater for 🚶👩‍🦼🚲🚌🚋 as in the #TransportHierarchy and other European cities
Intro to Spokes article... Princes Street: think again, Edinburgh! Princes Street, Scotland’s internationally renowned premier street, is unique, but has suffered in recent years. The opportunity to transform it, now under Council consideration, must not be squandered. New drawings by Richard Murphy architects suggest an imaginative way forward, catering for tram, bus, cycling and large numbers of pedestrians, whilst reducing vehicle dominance. This is the type of approach that the Council should be developing, rather than its current proposals – which its own report admits could be ‘more aspirational’ ! Section of Princes Street from Richard Murphy drawings, showing wider pedestrian space and onroad cycle lane separated from traffic except at bus bays Spokes table comparing different Princes STreet options Historic photos! 1996: Labour transport convener Cllr David Begg opens Princes Street bike lanes (removed by a later council). it was also Cllr Begg who banned private cars from Princes Street - no one would reverse that now! 2011: Princes Street was entirely free of all vehicles for the whole of December. The Evening News reported that shopping had thrived!
July 28, 2025 at 10:29 AM
spokes.org.uk
#PrincesStreet👍

☝️ see above

@euandavidson.bsky.social @edthornley.bsky.social @jackrmcaldwell.bsky.social @cllrcmiller.bsky.social @finlaymcf.bsky.social @mhbastian.bsky.social @andyheald.bsky.social @thecockburn.bsky.social @harryjwilliams.bsky.social @helenrambler.bsky.social @edtiss.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 11:49 AM
spokes.org.uk
☝️ #PrincesStreet plans unfit for modern #European capital

👍 Excellent amendments by #LibDems & #Greens

🤔 Hope other parties agree!!

@edi.bike @chasbooth.bsky.social @nellibdems.bsky.social @kevin-lang.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @mthmttcoe.bsky.social @cllrbenparker.bsky.social @sw20.info
Amendment by the Liberal Democrat Group Planning Committee 12 November 2025 2026 Item 7.3 – Non - Statutory Planning Guidance – Finalised Princes St and Waverley Valley Strategy Committee 1. Expresses its thanks to officers for their hard work in creating a draft Princes St and Waverley Valley Strategy and reviewing the responses received in the recent consultation. 2. recognises the vital importance of getting this strategy right given the iconic importance of Princes Street and Princes Street Gardens to the whole City. 3. notes the concerns raised by several organisations and groups that the proposed strategy still lacks ambition and imagination, and fails to provide the kind of vision needed to ensure Princes Street and the surrounding area are vibrant and welcoming places. 4. notes the interventions made by some which seek to place a greater emphasis on placemaking and respecting the transport hierarchy. 5. therefore, agrees not to adopt the strategy at this stage. 6. instead agrees that officers should seek to convene an elected member/officer/stakeholder workshop that brings together those with transport, culture, heritage and placemaking expertise so a more ambitious and exciting strategy can be brought forward for approval. Moved by: Cllr Hal Osler Seconded by: Cllr Kevin Lang Amendment by the Green Group Planning Committee 12 November 2025 Item 7.3 Non-Statutory Planning Guidance – Finalised Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy In recommendations: Add at the end of paragraph 1.1.1, “further notes concerns expressed by active travel groups and Richard Murphy architects amongst others at the inconsistency between the transport aspects of the strategy (chapter 5) and the City Mobility Plan and Our Future Streets;” Amends paragraph 1.1.2 to read, “Approve the planning aspects of the Princes Street and Waverley Valley Strategy at Appendix 3 as non-statutory planning guidance under City Plan 2030, subject to referral of this report to the Transport and Environment Committee and the Culture and Communities Committee to allow them to consider the sections of the strategy within their remit.” and Amends paragraph 1.1.3 to delete the word “Interim” Moved by: Cllr Chas Booth
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
spokes.org.uk
👆 #PrincesStreet

🤩 positive outcome!! - see thread above

@edi.bike @thecockburn.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @turvill.bsky.social @severincarrell.bsky.social @alastairdalton.bsky.social @threadinburgh.scot @vickyallan.bsky.social @sw20.info @edfoc.bsky.social
SpokesLothian ‪@spokes.org.uk‬ #PrincesStreet #Edinwebcast 👍 Amendment passed, voting 7-4 👍 Fantastic news! Transport & wider considerations must now be incorporated in the strategy This might not have happened without long-term effort/persistence by Spokes & the visionary/technical expertise of Richard Murphy architects Cllr @chasbooth.bsky.social refers to tramline death of #ZhiMinSoh --> www.spokes.org.uk/2022/06/zhi-... - Quotes Spokes deputation that tramline crashes can only end by segregated bike lanes - Supports #LibDem amendment to seek fuller discussion and expertise #PrincesStreet #Edinwebcast Q: Cllr @kevin-lang.bsky.social asks why not more ambitious, given earlier criticism Four traffic lanes wrong for Princes St, placemaking & #TransportHierarchy A: Public response to consultn v positive. Some traffic measures under Future STreets policy. More in future Cllr @davidfkey.bsky.social supports Spokes submission, New Town Comm Council and #RichardMurphy ideas - these all fit #PrincesStreet best Cllr @alexstaniforth.bsky.social jokes that #LibDem amendment better than Greens, so Greens will support it.
November 12, 2025 at 4:24 PM
spokes.org.uk
#PrincesStreet

👍 Follow-up to above Planning Cttee decision

-> www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/edinbur...

We've now a genuine *hope* to cut traffic lanes 4->2 with more 🚶👩‍🦼space & 🚲 lanes

@edi.bike @stephenjenkinson.bsky.social @davidfkey.bsky.social @kevin-lang.bsky.social @edfoc.bsky.social
Part of Evening News article “I'm not suggesting you would just take Richard’s plan and implement that, but he's done something that is really interesting, really ambitious and I think it helps to achieve the thing which we want Princes Street to be - a place you want to come to and spend a lot of time in. “It challenged some of the conventions, it was a proper reimagining of what Princes Street is and could be. It's that kind of thinking we need if this is really going to return to being the vibrant beating heart of Edinburgh.” Planning convener Joan Griffiths said: “We’re committed to taking forward a workshop to progress the strategy to allow us to realise the city’s aspirations for Princes Street and come back to committee with a revised version for approval in late 2026.” more from the Ev News article... Cllr Lang said: “Princes Street is going to be very different in the future. It’s never going to be about trying to return Princes Street to being a retail hub. The question is what is it that will make this whole area a space that people want to come and spend more time in more often? “It’s right that we take more time to get the vision right. Otherwise we're at risk of making the wrong decisions now that then hold us back from transforming what this street is.” He noted that Edinburgh architect Richard Murphy had produced alternative ideas for Princes Street after the council masterplan was criticised. These included removing the railings from Princes Street Gardens and having the space open 24 hours a day, as well as widening the pavements and reducing the traffic lanes from four to two. Cllr Lang said: “He was talking about a big increase in the footways and circulation space, where people could meet and you could have markets and stalls, rethinking Princes Street Gardens, making them open for more of the time, and making all these safe and welcoming green spaces. Spokes post about Planning Cttee decision to seek a better Princes St outcome... SpokesLothian‬ ‪@spokes.org.uk‬ · 6d Replied to you #PrincesStreet #Edinwebcast 👍 Amendment passed, voting 7-4 👍 Fantastic news! Transport & wider considerations must now be incorporated in the strategy This might not have happened without long-term effort/persistence by Spokes & the visionary/technical expertise of Richard Murphy architects
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM