Edinburgh council considers the possibility of 20-minute neighbourhoods

Edinburgh City Council to consider the possibility of a new strategy to implement a series of 20-minute neighbourhoods across the capital.

The 20-minute neighbourhood model is well established worldwide as a way of delivering services within communities.

This includes finding ways for residents to access most of their daily services provided by the council in an accessible and sustainable way.

The draft strategy outlines that, if approved, the first areas of focus will be where the need is greatest, whether that’s because of deprivation, poor connectivity, or demographic issues. The council has said they will:

• Maximise the opportunities created by new school investments at Liberton and Currie
• Work to deliver the new Pennywell Hub to provide a partnership between public and voluntary sectors
• Build on the community-led Local Place Planning work in Wester Hailes and Leith
• Work with the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership to combat loneliness and isolation, and build new networks of support and wellbeing
• Look at new schemes to improve the quality of place in some of our busiest and most traffic-dominated centres such as Niddrie Mains Road.

If approved, implementation of the strategy will begin immediately.

Council Leader Adam McVey said: ’20-minute neighbourhoods are about helping local people access the services they need, where and when they need them.

‘Getting what you need in your community is about more than just having your services and amenities close at hand.

‘It’s also about empowering communities, fostering stronger partnership working at a local level and, where appropriate, delivering multiple services from stand-alone hubs.

‘We know from our Capital Residents Survey that 58% of people agree it would make sense to have all public services delivered from one location. We also know this can be a more efficient way of organisations working within our communities and getting better outcomes for our residents.

‘Crucially, building thriving local neighbourhoods will not only boost the quality of life and residents wellbeing but it will also be greener by cutting the carbon footprint of frontline services and making support easier to reach within walking distance.’

Photo Credit – Marek Szturc