Outline Strategic Plan for Holyrood Park

From 26 September to 19 December 2023, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) undertook a public consultation seeking feedback on their outline Strategic Plan for Holyrood Park. Participants were asked how they currently use the Park, what they believe the priorities should be for the Park and the role Holyrood Park should play in Edinburgh’s future.

This took place via a Citizen Space survey and face to face engagement. The total returns including written responses, was just under 5000.

The survey responses have been analysed, and a Consultation Analysis Report is available on the HES website.

Respondents to the consultation were a largely local audience of frequent Park users, accessing the Park for a range of different purposes, including leisure and recreation, nature and wildlife and commuting, and visiting a wide range of areas within the Park.

Key issues identified with the Park mainly related to road closures/traffic in the Park, erosion, and safety (between cars, cyclists and pedestrians).

It was also clear from the comments that strong and differing views are held relating to vehicle access.

Despite some polarising views on movement within the Park, one common concern across groups was ensuring that access is maintained for those with mobility issues.

Respondents were also concerned with climate change and maintaining the natural habitat and wildlife of the Park in order to maximise positive impacts to the Park and the city as a whole.

It was clear that consultation respondents felt the Strategic Plan should place people at the heart of any future plans for the Park – however that meant quite different things to different groups.  All this highlights the difficult balance required in meeting the various needs of different Park user groups.

Survey feedback has informed the final Strategic Plan, which is now available on the HES website, with the Landscape Conservation Management Plan for the Park and the Consultation Analysis Report.

Key amendments...

Movement: One of the key amendments to the plan has been to include the development of a Movement Strategy for the Park, which will be developed in collaboration with The City of Edinburgh Council and will align to their City Mobility Plan 2030. Additional, detailed surveys are required to inform the plans for future traffic movement and active travel, ensuring a sustainable future for the Park. 

Landscape: The management of the Park will allow for diversity of habitats and landscape types, helping sustain the SSSI while enabling growing public use and access, as well as responding to our changing climate. Within this landscape, some areas will be more actively managed to conserve important grassland habitats and to create wetlands to manage surface water and support climate resilience.

Rock Fall Risk Safety: This has been taken forward as a separate corporate management exercise and is referred to under the 'Current and Emerging Challenges' section of the plan. While the Plan does not cover rock risk, specialist geotechnical engineers have completed a re-assessment of risk and potential mitigating measures in relation to parts of the Radical Road and other areas. HES plans to improve access in spring 2025, where this can be done safely, at the southern end from the Hawse to the northern end of South Quarry. This area includes Hutton’s Section and Hutton’s Rock, together with the quarry in which climbing is permitted. Due to Holyrood Park’s complexity and unique nature, all proposals need to consider statutory consents and require engagement with the relevant regulatory bodies.