Higher Urban

1
Higher Urban

• Edinburgh
• What I should know
• Site situation
• The CBD where and what ?
• Changes in the CBD
• Inner City Change Leith
• Make a comparison between Edinburgh and an urban
  model
• Traffic problems and solutions.

2
Edinburghs Site

• Port of Leith (trade with Europe)
• Crag and Tail site defensive.
• 2 deep troughs to the North and South
  (defensive).
• Gap between Pentland Hills and the Firth of Forth
  ( trade and travellers )

3
Edinburghs Functions

• Commercial , legal and religious centre.
• Capital city , centre of Government.
• International /national banking,insurance
  financial centre.
• Educational cultural centre.
• Commercial / retail centre.
• International tourist conference centre.
• Industrial centre ( although declining ).

4
Edinburghs CBD

• The old town the new town.
• Includes the Royal Mile, Princes Street ,Queen
  Street.
• As far as Holyrood Palace.

5
Edinburghs CBD

• Shops ...large chain stores e.g John Lewis, M S
  ( Princes St.)
• Shopping Malls ....Princes Mall,St.Jamess
  centre.
• Large Banks, insurance companies.( e.g Standard
  Life )
• Government offices e.g Scottish Office ,
  Parliament.
• Bus stations (St.Andrews Square)
• Main railway station ( Waverley)
• Recreation...pubs (Rose St.),Theatres
  (Playhouse),cinemas,hotels (Balmoral),eating
  places.
• Exclusive stores (Harvey Nics)
• Tourist attractions (castle, museums, Dynamic
  Earth)

6
Edinburghs CBD

• Taller buildings
• Lack of open space
• Most expensive land
• Route centre (roads and rail)
• Competition for land
• Most accessible spot
• Central in city

7
Edinburghs CBD
8
Edinburghs CBD
Bus station
Main Railway station
Several Tourist attractions
Tourist info.
Grid iron street pattern
Many churches
Lack of open space
Oldest part of city
9
Changes in Edinburghs CBD

• TRAFFIC CONGESTION
• HIGH RENT / LAND VALUES
• LACK OF LAND FOR EXPANSION
• LACK OF CAR PARKING
• COST OF MAINTAINING OLD BUILDINGS
• CUSTOMERS WANTING INDOOR SHOPPING

10
Changes In Edinburghs CBD

• Scottish Office moved to Leith.
• Movement of bank HQ RBS to Hermiston Gait and
  HBOS to Gyle.
• The Gyle shopping centre built, attracting shops
  customers.
• Bank buildings converted to pubs,restaurants etc.
• Covered shopping centres Princes mall and St
  James centre
• Large expensive stores built e.g Harvey Nics.
• New cinema / eating complex built.
• Plans for underground car parks improved shops
  in Princes Street.
• Many houses (George St, Queen St. Converted to
  offices).
• Movement of many offices out of city.
• Attempts to attract customers at Christmas with
  fair / ice rink / market

11
Changes in Edinburghs CBD
Converted bank
New cinema complex
German Market
Former Scottish Offfice
12
The Gyle Hermiston Gait

• Easy access M8 bypass.
• New railway links South Gyle and
  Hermiston/Edinburgh park
• Easy parking, room for expansion.
• Cheaper land.
• Nearness to airport

13
The Inner City

• Common inner city features include
• Mixed land use
• A high density of buildings.limited open space.
• Much waste land (e.g gap sites)
• Old , declining industries.
• Buildings of many ages styles.
• Many derelict buildings.
• Low order shops.
• A declining population.
• A higher than average unemployment rate.
• On average, a lower income.
• Most inner cities now have urban regeneration
  schemes in which buildings are being
  modernised,converted,demolished and replaced,with
  gap sites being filled.

14
INNER CITY - LEITH
Britannia
Grid iron
Scottish executive
Empty docks Now flats
15
Leith ,pre -change

• Port trade declined
• Loss of many industries, e.g shipbuilding
  fertilisers distilling.
• Lots of derelict land / buildings.
• Many sustandard houses.
• Many empty buldings.
• Limited shopping facilities.
• A declining, and ageing population.
• 1960s tower blocks

16
Recent Developments in Leith
Scottish Executive Headquarters (Victoria Quay)
New Expensive Flats
17
Recent Developments in Leith

• Real radio station.
• The Ocean Terminal shopping centre.
• Royal Yacht Britannia.
• New hotels.
• Private Health Club ( First Generation)
• Large restaurants.
• Big events e.g Tall Ships and MTV awards.
• Development of passenger shipping trade.
• Gentrification of old Whisky Bonds.
• Leith Walk tree planting.
• Large stores e.g Tiso .

18
Recent Develoments in Leith
19
HAS IT WORKED ?

• Younger, more affluent people attracted to Leith.
• Increase in daytime population.
• Attracted people from all over to Leith to spend
  their leisure time.
• Created an affluent dock and riverside fringe.

20
Edinburgh - past papers

• 2005
• a) For a city you have studied, explain the ways
  in which its site and situation contributed to
  its growth. 4
• b) Referring to an inner city landscape in
  Glasgow, or in a city you have studied , describe
  and explain the changes which have taken place in
  recent years. 5
• 2001
• The Central Business District of major cities
  undergoes continuing change.
• Referring to a city that you have studied in the
  Developed World, explain the changes which have
  taken place in the CBD over the past few decades.
• You should refer to named locations within the
  CBD 5