The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Thursday 18 December 2025

1,000 new homes near airport, New Town Quarter student flats rejected, efforts to re-open the Radical Road + dedicated local charity volunteers share their inspiring stories

Michael MacLeod

18 Dec 2025 — 6 min read

Photo by Tom Duffin.

🌤️ Good morning good people of Edinburgh. I'm doing my best to keep the newsletters a bit shorter. If you have any thoughts on that, please do comment on the online version of this post. Your email address will let you log-in without needing a password, and your comments are welcome. I think today's edition feels around the perfect length. But that could be because I've missed something, and if I have... you know what do to. Here’s Thursday's Edinburgh Minute.

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🏗️ Councillors yesterday rejected proposals for 591 student flats at the New Town Quarter off Dundas Street. Among the hundreds of locals who objected were the Fettes Row & Royal Cresent Residents Association and the New Town & Broughton Community Council, who said this was the 13th application for the site over many years. - The Spurtle has detailed reporting from the meeting.
⮑ Developers had been ready to start construction 'as soon as possible' and said 200 people could move-in within three years. Ross McNulty of Ediston Real Estate said last week: "I have no hesitation in saying that this will be the best located affordable housing ever delivered in a Scottish city centre. I can think of no other example that would come close. It will also be transformational for the lives of those who will live there in one of the best areas in one of the finest cities."

NEW TOWN QUARTER.—Councillors refuse planning consent. Full report here: www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/back-dr... #Edinburgh #hyperlocal #news #planning #NewTownQuarter
— (@spurtle.bsky.social) 2025-12-17T14:22:40.333Z

🏗️ Plans for nearly 1,000 new homes on the former Saica packaging factory at Turnhouse Road near the Gyle were approved by councillors. - Project Scotland.

🚔 A 'paid assassin' has been jailed for life for the murder of gang rival Marc Webley, 38, at Granton's Anchor Inn on Hogmanay in 2023. Grant Hunter, 34, was caught on CCTV shooting Webley in the back. - BBC Scotland published this report.

🚈 The train line between Haymarket and Dalmeny will be closed between 17-25 January, with some services diverted or replaced by buses. The closure is part of a £342m programme to electrify routes, requiring some bridges to be replaced. - Network Rail published more details here.

✈️ A new flight path between Wick John O' Groats Airport and Edinburgh Airport is being explored. - Cameron Angus-Mackay, BBC Scotland News.

⛰️ Efforts to get the Radical Road open by June are underway, with the Holyrood Park path getting new signage, barriers and vegetation management if Historic Environment Scotland's plans are approved. - More details from Ross Chalmers, Deadline News.

🚧 Work to replace the Braid estate traffic filters with a new segregated cycleway is still delayed. - Ian Swanson has an update in the Evening News.

🛍️ After 109 years in the same Easter Road shop, Bowdens Kilt Hire is closing. - Lee Dalgetty, Edinburgh Live.

🦢 A swan caused tailbacks on the City Bypass near Straiton yesterday morning. - Neil Johnstone, Evening News.

🇪🇺 'Edinburgh students react as UK to rejoin Erasmus scheme' - BBC Scotland News.

🤝 Sarah Lee, founder and managing director of Edinburgh-based PR and comms agency Hot Tin Roof has been appointed chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Scotland. - Scott Reid, in The Scotsman.
⮑ Lee takes over from Stewart Argo, who has launched his own PR firm.

🏆 A volunteer at Edinburgh Tenants Federation has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the organisation. Betty Stone has been ETF's Convenor since 2005 and an activist for the charity for nearly 30 years. The housing charity supports tenants across the city and you can find out more about it here. Thanks to Lauren McCarthy for sending this in.

"I have witnessed a lot of change in the housing landscape, yet, reflecting on my journey, I can see similarities between now and the 90s, and how in many cases we are still working to ensure social housing in Edinburgh is safe and accessible." - Betty Stone.

☎️ Another person with a lot of stories to share: John Lawrie discusses 50 years as a listening volunteer with Samaritans in Edinburgh.

“Something that hasn’t changed much over time are the callers. A bereavement is still a bereavement. A lost job is still a lost job. A broken relationship still causes the same pain as it did 50 years ago. What does change is the social background, social attitudes, and technology.” - John Lawrie on 50 years of listening for Samaritans.

💡 'Fae Leith Navidad' - Shops across Leith are taking part in a real life advent calendar, taking turns to appear on the Light Up Leith social media pages and show off their festive windows.

⮑ There's a map of all participating businesses and residents here. They're raising money for the Fresh Start charity and have a £500 target. The fundraiser page is here.

📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard

⮑ Please get in touch using this form. < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter. First up, a request from a subscriber:

"Not sending something in but wondering if it would be possible to please have an edition at some point advertising groups that meet regularly in Edinburgh for everyone who wants to pick up a new hobby in the new year? Less one off events more stuff like EYW, language exchange, writing groups, Try Tag Rugby." - If you've got something like this to share, please get in touch using the form. Thanks!

📌 “Thursday 18th December. The Vintage Chorus will be giving a free performance of carols and festive songs on 18th December from 5pm at the Virgin Hotel, Victoria Street. Join us in the Oculus Lounge on the 8th floor, where you’ll find us singing familiar Christmas music under the magnificent dome.” - Thanks to Iain Macintyre, Vintage Chorus, for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday 28 December 2025: The Edinburgh Street Historians are doing our critically acclaimed Meadows walking tour with all the proceeds going to support Edinburgh’s Hospital for Children and Young People. Come along to see this great green space, hear its history, and help the Sick Kids.” - Thanks to Fraser Horn, Founder of the Edinburgh Street Historians, for sharing this. (Hear Fraser sharing his story in this video.)

📌 “Saturday 20 December - Festive photo pop-up at Hot Toddy for joyful portraits. A 15 minute session for singles, couples, friends or families includes 3 edited images, with limited slots available. Shoots are £38, and £5 from each booking supports Social Bite, plus get 10% off at Hot Toddy!” - Thanks to Photographer Debora Krut for sharing this.

📌 “Sunday, 21st of December - Join Edinburgh Humanists for Kaffeeklatsch, an informal coffee-and-conversation meetup for friendly discussion. Taking place in the Gallery Bar at Summerhall. All are welcome; bring curiosity, courtesy and respect for differing views.” - Thanks to Imogen, Volunteer with Humanist Society Scotland, for sharing this.

📌 “Saturday 27 December - For our first outing after Christmas, and with a 5am license, EPiKA (at the Bongo Club) brings Lindsey Herbert, straight out of the epicentre of the US underground techno scene to make her UK debut.” - Thanks to EPiKA for sharing this.

🔥 Ticket links for Hogmanay events including this year's Torchlight Procession are getting hundreds of clicks from this week's Edinburgh Culture Minute newsletter. Check it out here.