1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Edinburgh
Region
Europe
Short description of the intervention
Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening project transformed a vacant development site in Craigmillar which is reserved for a new high school, not scheduled to be built until late 2020, into a temporary green space. The site is at the centre of the wider Craigmillar regeneration area, adjacent to the newly-built Community Hub and neighbouring plots at varying stages of development. EDI's PARC Craigmillar Ltd is responsible for the regeneration in Craigmilar, working in partnership with Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) and the City of Edinburgh Council. The initiative will create a meanwhile space for community use, while works begin on the town centre development. The greening will allow the area to become an active space for the local community to enjoy and ease the construction process. Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening forms part of a wider plan for the redevelopment of Craigmillar Town Centre. The masterplan, which was approved in December 2014, includes 330 homes, a retail centre, restaurant, community play area and high school – where the temporary greenspace will be situated until building commences. (ref 1, 3)
Address

Craigmillar
Edinburgh
EH16 4BN
United Kingdom

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Previous derelict area
Website of the intervention
http://www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/delivering/project-archive/craigmill…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2011
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2015
End date of the intervention
2016
Present stage of the intervention
Completed
Please specify "other" stage of the intervention
The baseline study for mapping and a proposals report for temporary greening of vacant/ derelict land in Edinburgh is dates 2010, while completion is stated to be done in April 2016. (Ref )
Goals of the intervention
1. The new initiative aims to create a meanwhile space for community use on the reserved school site while there no development on it.
2. Plans for the project include a grassed area, an upgrade to the existing paths along the new woodland area, an orchard and a hazel and wood copse growing area.
3. Conversion of vacant and derelict land into beneficial use and encourage regeneration.
4. Improve the amount of accessible green space in urban areas available for health and well being.
5. Increasing woodland cover in line with SFS targets - The Scottish Forestry Strategy.
6. Reducing the effect of climate change via carbon capture through tree planting.
7. Investment in green infrastructure.
8. Creation of habitats through greening interventions (ref 1, 3).
Quantitative targets
1. 11 street trees, 2. 20 orchard trees, 3. 268 metres of new path, 4. 1,500 m2 native woodland planted, 5. 105 metres of new fence, 6. 10,000 m2 native grassland (ref 2)
Monitoring indicators defined
1. number of street trees planted in planters
2. number of orchard trees planted in planters
3. metres of new path created
4. metres of new fence erected
5. Area of native grassland created (m2)
6. Area of willow and hazel copse planted (m2)
7. Area of grass created (m2)
8. number of community events undertaken(ref 1)
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
Climate change mitigation
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Habitat and biodiversity restoration
Green space creation and/or management
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Improving mental health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Climate change mitigation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Sequester and store carbon
Climate change mitigation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Species-focused
Ecosystem-focused
What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?
Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
Restore native species
Implementation activities
1. Creation of 1,200m2 of permanent woodland.
2. Creation of 3,250m2 temporary, fast growing woodland/coppicing for landscaping and community use providing a range of opportunities.
3. Creation of 268m of new footpath, creating new active travel routes.
4. Enhancement of 80m existing footpath.
5. A seating area adjacent to the ‘town square’ and temporary orchard, and also seating within the wildflower meadow planting area.
6. Grassland improvements - wildflower meadow planting over 9,840m2 on what is currently self-seeded grass on future development plots where the previous buildings were demolished.
7. Temporary creation of the 1,067m2 ‘town square’ including 11 tree standards in planters and the creation of a temporary orchard with 20 orchard trees over 600m2 in planters – both areas providing a more formalised urban realm setting. (ref 1)
Type of NBS project
Creation of new green areas
Transformation of previously derelict areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Parks and urban forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Community gardens and allotments
Horticulture
Please specify "other allotments and community gardens"
mini herb gardens (Ref )
Please specify the number of plots or allotment gardens
Unknown
Vegetation Type
Grass
Trees
Flower beds
Please specify how many trees were planted
11 tree standards in planters and the creation of a temporary orchard with 20 orchard trees (ref 1)
Amenities offered by the NBS
Benches and drinking water stations
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Carbon storage/sequestration
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Recreation
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Local government/Municipality
Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Private sector/Corporate/Business
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The project is being implemented by the Urban Regeneration Company PARC with the City of Edinburgh Council. The Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust is also in partnership - to develop detailed designs and proposals for the greening of 3 vacant and/or derelict sites at Granton and Craigmillar. (ref 3, 5)
Key actors - initiating organization
Local government/municipality
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
Increasing woodland cover in line with SFS targets : The Scottish Forestry Strategy (ref 1)
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Unknown
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
(Please see section 7:comments - as can be interpreted as CSR strategy or not depending on the content provided)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
The Central Scotland Green Network is the regional network behind this project (ref 5)
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Scottish Vacant & Derelict Land Survey presents a study exploring the potential for underused sites to be used in the short or medium term for temporary greenspace and other open space land uses. It aims to identify a number of key sites (‘target sites’) within the City of Edinburgh which are existing vacant, derelict and stalled sites. (ref 5)
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Funding for this Greening Vacant and Derelict Land in Edinburgh has been granted by the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund, and the temporary greening project for Craigmillar town centre was supported by EDI and the City of Edinburgh Council. (ref 3, 5)
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Project Value was £77,145 funded by CSGN Development Fund, PARC Craigmillar, City of Edinburgh Council. (ref 2)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Corporate investment
Private Foundation/Trust
Type of fund(s) used
Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Green densification model
Vacant space model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Public actor (e.g. municipality)
Type of innovation
Social
Governance innovation
Cultural innovation
Please specify social innovation
Several community events undertaken to help in the greening of derelict land (Ref 1) and residents are being encouraged to put forward their own ideas for how the space can be used (ref 3)
Novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Climate change
Enhanced carbon sequestration
Green space and habitat
Increased green space area
Reduced biodiversity loss
Restoration of derelict areas
Description of environmental benefits
The NBS is an area of permanent woodland which will have had time to establish and mature in advance of the general area being fully inhabited. Green space availability has been increased by: 11 street trees planted in planters, 20 orchard trees planted in planters, 1,500 m2 native woodland planted, 10,000 m2 native grassland created, 3,250 m2 of willow and hazel copse planted, 900 m2 of grass created.
The project also transformed vacant and derelict land into beneficial use, and the project reduced effect of climate change via carbon capture through tree planting. (ref 2)
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
Unknown
Social and cultural impacts
Social justice and cohesion
Improved access to urban green space
Increased opportunities for social interaction
Health and wellbeing
Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Description of social and cultural benefits
This woodland is in a Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) Woodlands in and Around Towns (WIAT) priority area and helps open up the space for community use.
268 metres of the new path created, 5 metres of new fence erected, where a few community events are undertaken.
As a result of the project, people feel good about physical surroundings – evidence shows that people are distressed by the derelict spaces on their doorsteps and there is a clear need to see positive steps being taken to improve their neighbourhoods.
The NBS also improved the amount of accessible green space in urban areas, available for health and well being improvement. (ref 1, 2, 3)
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Achieved impacts
Indicators
1. Number of users and beneficiaries
2. area of accessible green space
3. number of new species established
4. number of annual events organized (ref 1, 3)
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of August, 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Conduct a baseline survey before and after NBS implementation
Collection of monitoring data at specific time intervals during the project to aid evaluation
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Unknown
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening
ELGT 2015-16 Project Programme Report
central scotland green network information
Documents relevant to the intervention
Attachment Size
edinburghproject_programme_report.pdf (2.83 MB) 2.83 MB
List of references
1. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust. (2016). 2015-16 Project Report - Project Name Craigmillar Town Centre
temporary greening. Available at: https://elgt.urwinstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ELGT-2015-16-Project-Programme-Report.pdf. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
2. Central Scotland Green Network. Craigmillar Town Centre Temporary Greening. Available at: http://www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/delivering/project-archive/craigmillar-town-centre-temporary-greening. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
3. Central Scotland green network. (2010). Greening Vacant and Derelict Land in Edinburgh. Accessed: http://www.centralscotlandgreennetwork.org/delivering/project-archive/greening-vacant-and-derelict-land-in-western-harbour. Accessed on 31st August, 2020.
Comments and notes
Comments
section 4: intervention - voluntary: A comment by the EDI Chair was made - “While the development is still underway, this project will make the most of the currently vacant Craigmillar plot. The greening will allow the area to become an active space for the local community to enjoy and ease the construction process. Importantly, residents are being encouraged to put forward their own ideas for how the space can be used.” Thus it can be interpreted as CSR startegy for PARC/EDI. (Ref3)
Additional insights
1. Funding for this study on Greening Vacant and Derelict Land in Edinburgh, has been granted by the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) Development Fund, with the main objective of identifying and developing a number of key sites (‘target sites’) within the City of Edinburgh.(Ref 5)
Pictures of the NBS
/sites/default/files/nbs/images/edincraigmillar_temp_greening_1.jpg
Public Images
Craigmillar Town Center temporary greening (2012)
Craigmillar Town Center temporary greening (2012)
Charlie Cumming, retrieved 08/15/2018