New vision for Porty's prom

A QUIET stretch of Portobello promenade would be transformed into a busy parade under plans to regenerate a rundown part of the seaside suburb.

The city council has hired consultants to draw up a masterplan for breathing new life into an area dubbed "the gateway to Portobello".

The idea is to turn light industrial land around the north of the High Street into a thriving neighbourhood with new shops, small businesses and housing.

Seafront restaurants and new paths leading from the High Street to the promenade are among the ideas that will be explored.

The possibility of creating an underground car park on the site of council-owned five-a-side football pitches off the High Street has also been put forward by council officials.

The masterplan will cover 17 hectares of private and council-owned land, including Baileyfield Industrial Estate, the all-weather sports pitches and the former Scottish Power offices.

The Figgate Burn is likely to be central to the vision, with a wooded walkway along it between the High Street and the promenade among the plans. The car park to the south east of the burn, in Bridge Street, has been earmarked for housing.

Councillor Lawrence Marshall said: "The masterplan is an attempt to get the High Street to look like the High Street right from the gateway to Portobello.

"I would like to see restaurants open up on the prom and this has not happened so far due to a lack of premises. It would be nice to attract to Portobello the kind of restaurants that exist in Leith.

"It would also be nice if this could lead to a better mix of commercial shops in the area."

Informal consultation with residents has indicated they would like to see art workshops, affordable housing, waterfront restaurants, new independent shops and cycle routes along the prom.