Portobello Promenade

Portobello Promenade Project 

The Portobello Promenade Project is a City of Edinburgh Council landscape improvement programme focused on the Promenade between Kings Place and Joppa, including Straiton Place Park and Towerbank Playground. 

The project sits within the Council’s Thriving Green Spaces programme. It aims to deliver coordinated improvements to public realm, play provision, green infrastructure, and public amenity, resulting in a site-wide masterplan and phased construction works. 

This project is part of the Visitor Levy's City Transformation Fund investment programme.  

Find out more about the Visitor Levy Programme. 

On this page:

1. Project scope
2. The vision and design
3. Where we are now
4. Engagement
5. FAQs

Project scope

The project covers the following areas and elements: 

• Promenade corridor from Kings Place to Joppa: street furniture, signage, wayfinding and bin provision 
• Straiton Place Park: accessibility and inclusive play improvements 
• Towerbank Playground: accessibility and inclusive play improvements 
• New public toilet: modular design with Changing Places and showers 

The vision and project design 

The vision is to enhance Portobello’s public realm by creating a more welcoming, accessible and resilient environment - one that supports the needs of the local community, visitors, and businesses alike.  

The project adopts a place-based design approach, meaning all proposals are grounded in the specific character, history, and community of Portobello. Key principles guiding the design process include: 

1. Heritage-informed design: celebrating Portobello’s industrial past (brickworks, potteries, the surviving Kilns) and its Victorian seaside heritage 
2. Inclusive by default: accessibility and inclusive play are baseline requirements 
3. Nature-focused: placing green and nature-friendly solutions at the centre of the proposals   
4. Phased and deliverable: the masterplan is structured around realistic phasing and costed delivery 
5. Community-centred: stakeholder and community engagement is built into the design process 

Where we are now 

We're pleased to share that AtkinsRéalis has been appointed as lead consultant for the project. They will develop a Masterplan (RIBA Stage 2) and subsequent technical design.

Engagement 

Stakeholder and community engagement is a core component of the project development phase.  

Starting this summer, the Landscape Architecture firm AtkinsRealis and our Project team will be delivering engagement activities with the local community and businesses as the project develops, to explore the needs of local community and opportunities for improvement. 

In the meantime, you can contact the project team directly at porty@edinburgh.gov.uk.

FAQs 

Why is this happening now? 

Portobello Promenade is much loved, but parts of its public realm, play facilities and toilet provision need updating to meet modern standards of accessibility, inclusion and climate resilience. Previous public consultations and engagement with Portobello community groups have highlighted the need for improvements to public toilets provision and play facilities for children of different ages. 

How can I share my views or get involved? 

Community and stakeholder engagement is planned as the masterplan develops. In the meantime, you can contact the project team directly at porty@edinburgh.gov.uk. 

Is everything in the plans guaranteed to happen? 

Not yet. Many elements are subject to funding and Council approval. The masterplan stage will help test what's possible and prioritise what's delivered first. A new modern set of Public Toilets with Changing Places and showers is our main priority intervention.   

What other projects are happening in Portobello?  

Portobello is home to a number of initiatives led by different teams across the City of Edinburgh Council. The Portobello Promenade project is just one of these initiatives. 
 
Below are some of the other projects taking place in Portobello.  

Continuous Footway Project 

This project aims to make walking along Portobello High Street safer and easier by introducing continuous footways across side streets, beginning with those between Bath Street and St Mark’s Place. These improvements form the first phase of the wider Portobello High Street Improvement Programme and are planned for delivery during 2026-2028. 

Portobello to Musselburgh Active Travel Route 

Led by the Council’s Active Travel team, this project will create a high-quality, separate cycle route linking Portobello to Musselburgh. The route will connect Portobello Promenade with the Musselburgh Active Toun scheme and the John Muir Way, helping to improve cycling and walking connections across the area. Public consultation on the initial designs is expected to take place in autumn 2026. Contact activetravel@edinburgh.gov.uk for more details.

Edinburgh Coastal Change Adaptation Plan (CCAP) 

This project is led by the Council’s Flood Prevention team and is developing a long-term plan to help Edinburgh’s coastline adapt to the impacts of climate change, including coastal erosion, flooding and rising sea levels. The plan will guide future decisions on managing and protecting coastal areas, including Portobello and Joppa. 

Local Traffic Improvement Programme 

Led by the Council’s Local Traffic Improvement team, this project has improved several pedestrian crossings along Bath Street and part of Straiton Place. The changes make it safer and easier for people walking, wheeling and using mobility aids to travel between homes, businesses, community facilities and Portobello Beach.