The LHNCC Environment sub-group works on issues affecting our local environment, including air quality, trees and greenspace and the Water of Leith/Docks. We work with residents, local groups and the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) to make sure local concerns are heard and acted on.
Trams to Newhaven: trees and landscaping
LHNCC’s Environment sub-group responded to the Council’s consultation on the draft plan, and submitted a written deputation raising concerns about the post-consultation draft, which went to CEC’s Transport and Environment Committee in June 2026. We are awaiting the outcome of that deputation and will update this page once we know more.
Following construction of the Trams to Newhaven line, residents of the Leith Harbour and Newhaven area were promised that trees removed for the works would be replaced on a two-for-one basis, along with reinstatement of landscaping along the route. This reinstatement is long overdue. Where reinstatement has taken place, some of the newly planted trees and shrubs have since died and have not been replaced. Some of the areas have only had partial reinstatement.
We continue to press the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver on these commitments in full, directly and via the Community Councils Together on Trams forum. The Council publishes regular project updates, including on outstanding issues, on the Trams to Newhaven news page.
Air quality: Salamander Street and Tower Street
There have been recurring exceedances of PM10 (fine particulate matter) in the Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that covers Salamander Street and Tower Street. The City of Edinburgh Council has been developing a dedicated Salamander Street Air Quality Action Plan, covering industrial, transport, development management and public information measures to tackle PM10 in the area, alongside its wider city-wide Air Quality Action Plan.
LHNCC’s Environment sub-group responded to the Council’s consultation on the draft Salamander Street plan, and submitted a written deputation raising concerns about the post-consultation draft, which went to CEC’s Transport and Environment Committee in June 2026. We are awaiting the outcome of that deputation and will update this page once we know more.
Water of Leith
The Water of Leith is an important corridor running through Leith to Basins and the Port. We work with local groups to protect and improve this stretch of the river, including litter and water quality. We work alongside Friends of the Water of Leith Basins, who have a representative on LHNCC, as well as SOS Leith and the Edinburgh Trash Club.
Seafield odour and noise – nuisance reporting
Leith Links Community Council hosts an online form that can be used to report any occurrences of nuisance odour or noise from Seafield Waste Water Treatment Plant.
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