Politics
Edinburgh commits over £30m in infrastructure and road safety upgrades for 2025/26
City councillors have approved substantial funding for road repairs, safety measures, and long-term transport projects, with Granton targeted as a national regeneration pathfinder.
How we reported this
Edinburgh City Council has approved more than £30m in infrastructure and road safety works for the 2025/26 financial year, allocating the bulk of the funding, £18.161m, to carriageway and footway repairs across the capital. An additional £6m has been set aside specifically for road safety delivery, according to council budget documents.
The investment comes as Edinburgh advances its Integrated Transport Plan 2023-30, which aligns with the City Mobility Plan 2021-2030. Among the measures being pursued are pedestrianisation of parts of the city centre, expansion of cycling infrastructure, and an extension of the tram network from Granton to the BioQuarter research campus. These projects are designed to reduce car dependency and improve air quality, changes that will directly affect how residents travel to work, school and shops.
Long-term planning and national alignment
The city’s infrastructure push is also linked to Scotland’s wider Infrastructure Strategy 2027-2037, a ten-year framework that underwent public consultation from 13 January to 5 May 2026. Edinburgh is participating in a pathfinder regeneration project for Granton, which is expected to attract both public and private investment for housing, employment and green space under the national strategy.
On the planning front, City Plan 2030 was adopted as Edinburgh’s Local Development Plan on 7 November 2024. Supplementary Guidance on developer contributions and infrastructure delivery was finalised and presented to the Planning Committee on 11 December 2024. This guidance sets out how new residential and commercial developments will be expected to contribute financially to the roads, schools and utilities they require, meaning the costs of growth will be shared between developers and the public purse.
Green infrastructure and investment coordination
The Edinburgh Infrastructure Investment Programme Board, established in February 2022, is developing an Edinburgh Green Infrastructure Investment Plan. The plan aims to coordinate public and private investment to support a net-zero, climate-resilient future for the city. For local residents, this could translate into better flood defences, greener public spaces and more efficient energy use in council buildings.
Combined, the council’s spending plans and the national framework signal a sustained focus on maintaining and upgrading Edinburgh’s ageing roads network while preparing for the pressures of population growth and climate change. Further details on the phasing of major transport projects are expected to emerge as the Integrated Transport Plan moves through its delivery stages.