Design Engagement Process
Following designer appointment, continuous engagement with promoters, owners, project managers, planning authorities, utility companies, and affected landowners should clarify design criteria, with local planning authorities producing detailed design guidelines beforehand and collaborative resolution of design issues throughout.
- The Council committee report (16 November 2023) acknowledged that the original tram project lacked a single point of contact to coordinate design responses, and that this had been addressed in the Newhaven project (City of Edinburgh Council Committee Report, 16 November 2023).
- No published formal guidance requiring continuous engagement between promoters, owners, and planning authorities on design criteria for future light rail projects has been identified to March 2026.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedCouncil Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for the successful Trams to Newhaven project. The Council has not published a formal detailed response to individual recommendations. Source: Council news release, 2 November 2023.
The Inquiry Report identifies a difference in the approach taken by the Council to design before and after the Mar Hall mediation. Prior to the mediation there was not a single point of contact at the Council to coordinate the design responses and this led to confusion as to the Council's position. In order to avoid this in future, Lord Hardie recommends that the Council produces detailed design guidance to assist design development, collaborate with the designer to resolve design issues and coordinate the response to design queries such that clear instructions can be given. It is recommended that the Council should adopt this Recommendation. Source: Chief Executive's report to Transport and Environment Committee, 16 November 2023. Note: City of Edinburgh Council statuses are drawn from the Chief Executive's report to the Transport and Environment Committee (16 November 2023), referred to the full Council on 14 December 2023. This report appears to have been formally adopted but independent confirmation has not been obtained.
Progress Timeline
Initial status based on Scottish Government and City of Edinburgh Council responses to the Edinburgh Tram Inquiry Report (September 2023).