1.4 Lothian and Borders in Context

1.4.1 Area Profile

The Lothian and Borders Waste Strategy Area consists of City of Edinburgh (261km2), East Lothian (699 km2), Midlothian (355 km2), West Lothian (425 km2) and Scottish Borders (4731km2). The Lothian region (Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian) is predominantly classified as urban with four out of five residents living in an urban area. It is situated at the heart of the national transport network. The A1 and East Coast main rail line linking Edinburgh to London pass through East Lothian, and the M8 corridor, Edinburgh to Glasgow, and the M9 corridor pass through West Lothian. Edinburgh also has one of Scotland’s key airport links and is serviced by the Forth Estuary Ports handling more cargo than the Clyde or the Mersey (1994: Lothian Structure Plan). The Scottish Borders is a large rural area that is wholly dependent for the present on the strategic road network. There are no rail links within the Scottish Borders area, but proposals are being developed with the aim of re-establishing rail links between the Scottish Borders and the national rail network. The proposed Waverly Railway will start at Tweedbank, run through Galashiels and head northwards into Midlothian.

1.4.2 Population and Households

The Lothian and Borders Waste Strategy Area is characterised by population growth (6% to 2016) and a more significant increase in households (18% to 2014). Edinburgh City West and East Lothian are amongst the fastest growing local authority areas in Scotland. The population in the Lothian and Borders area could increase by 51 000 during 2000 to 2016 with the number of households increasing by 72000 during 2000 to 2014.

Scottish Borders Council is committed to a growth strategy, which will make provision for a total of 6000 new households by 2011. This figure includes an additional growth component of 1200 households (2%) on top of Scottish Executive projections. This equates to a housing land requirement for 3730 new houses, over and above the effective land supply in 1998. Whilst a proportion of this growth already takes account of the impact of the rail link, the council would anticipate further significant growth in future years, stimulating additional housing and employment.

Tables 1 and 2 show changes in growth projections for population and households within the Waste Strategy Area (WSA). Further work is required on how these changes will translate into impacts on the total waste arisings for the area.

Table 1 - Population Growth Projections (Scottish Executive GRO(S) statistics

Note
(1) Including inflow of approximately 10 000 students during term time. It should also be noted that during the peak tourist season, Edinburgh’s population is almost doubled by around 400 000 tourists and visitors.

Table 2 - Household Growth Projections (Scottish Executive)

1.4.3 Local Economy

Jobs and the economy are also expanding in the area with growth of an expected 30 000 jobs in the Lothians and 20 000 in Edinburgh by 2015. West Lothian is one of the fastest growing local economies in Scotland and is expecting 7% growth in manufacturing. The Edinburgh and Lothian Structure Plan identifies 40% of development within the area being focused in Midlothian.

The proposed Waverly railway line to the Scottish Borders would also have a significant impact on the rate of growth in the economy and ultimately the waste arisings and potential movement of waste in the area. With its high agriculture based economy (31% of all businesses), the Borders will encounter key changes in waste arisings when agricultural wastes become a controlled waste stream.

The table below shows the changes in key employment sectors in the Lothian and Borders Area. Further work is required on how these changes translate into impacts on the total waste arising within the area.

Table 3 - Historic Changes in Employment By Sector

Source
(1) East of Scotland Plan 2000–2006 Objective 2 Programme
(2) South of Scotland Objective 2 Bid, June 2000