Iain McFarlane
streetsofyourtown.bsky.social
Iain McFarlane
@streetsofyourtown.bsky.social
Town planner, ex bookseller, Go Betweens fan, here for place and urban thoughts. Local and strategic planning lead at City of Edinburgh Council. Politically restricted officer.
How much are thy allocating for carbon capture? Dutch that instead…..
November 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Generally, permitted development rights under recent-ish change in Scotland. Complete disconnect between policy and pd. Built in problem.
November 2, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Trumpesque…..
September 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Smiths shops have looked a shambles for years, don’t know how they survived so long.
August 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Saw an article the other day about a new ‘immersive Titanic experience’ which I may avoid….
July 21, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Noted! Thanks.
June 28, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Fab, but a common name version might help!
June 28, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Thoughts on this appreciated. Already working on the next one so feedback is useful.

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cityplan2030
City Plan 2030
We are preparing a new local development plan for Edinburgh – City Plan 2030. The new plan will set out policies and proposals for development in Edinburgh between 2020 and 2030.
www.edinburgh.gov.uk
June 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A Maxi. They’ve really corrupted the Mini
June 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
There’s certainly a difference between number of homes being built and amount of land with permissions. No business will build a home unless someone can get a mortgage to buy it or pay market rent. Without other need being funded somehow (in SE Scotland it’s over 60%), it simply won’t get built.
June 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Should be red
May 20, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I find modern academic writing often a chore to read and a frustration of learning rather than positive communication. Simplicity is not a crime but seems to be consciously avoided rather than embraced.
May 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Radio snooker
May 1, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Anyone know what the density dph of this is?
April 12, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Looks pretty low headlight so hope it’s not too springy….
March 30, 2025 at 5:17 PM
That’s a great shop too
March 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Radiohead at Subway Edinburgh. Maybe holds a couple of hundred at a squeeze? Probably 20 people in. Not too long before re-release of Creep. Or REM at Coasters, less than 1000. Both great!
March 14, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Yes, very much so. Working hard to get that in Edinburgh, in part returning to models of the past, tenements, colonies, terraces with a mix of uses.
March 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
It’s useful, at least. There’s a need to think bigger. New places can work if they have the numbers and density to support the right public transport and local services. Recent articles have bemoaned the lack of these and never mentioned density. That’s a blocker to building good places
March 7, 2025 at 4:54 PM