Trinity Conservation Area

History and Existing Documentation Trinity is a community to the north of Edinburgh, Scotland. The existing Trinity Conservation Area is defined by its residential atmosphere, greenspaces, and proximity to the Firth of Forth.

Site Location

John Laurie’s 1786 Map

1843-1882 Ordnance Survey

A charitable foundation based in Leith bought this area as farmland in 1713 and by the end of the 18th century they started selling off land for development. Residents from the New Town started building their weekend houses with extensive gardens.

In the 1850s, the addition of railway lines caused estate owners to sell their land for housing developments. However, with the publication of the Beeching reports in 1963 and 1965 which identified railway lines and stations that were not economically viable, the rail lines in Trinity were closed and were later converted into cycle paths. Now, Trinity is a residential area that is generally well connected to the city with few commercial amenities.

John Ainslie’s 1804 Map

Contemporary Satellite View

Four residential waterfront case studies have been analysed.

Theree show the historic residential typology, shopfront policies, restrianed building reuse, and the importance of staying within height and density guidelines. One shows how the the addition of many modern extensions and infills flips the character of the area.

North Berwick

Portobello

Dunbar

Kurashiki

Sea level rise

Natura 2000

CityDev 2030

The City Development plans for 2030 areas surrounding Trinity as major areas of new development. Trinity's developments are concentrated on transportation to these outside areas.The bus connections, the tram route safeguard, and the Strategic Active Travel Project and Safeguards have been improved.

As part of the development plan, the Granton Link will promote the economy and increase the success of the rest of the city, Natura 2000 sites will be minimally impacted by the development plan. Then, the Climate Central Coastal Risk Screening Tool shows possible sea level rise over the next century and should be used to identify risk areas. The current proposal does not depict flood or sea-level management in the Trinity area.

Trinity- Decoding the city MSc. in Architecture Conservation | Urban Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr.Ruxandra-lulia Stoica Tutor: Georgina Allison, Stuart Eydmann Group 3: Lilian Buchangroff, Karina Canclini, Yating He, Elaheh Joveini, Rebeca León Carmona, Devinth Muthusamy, Kentaro Tanaka

Architecture Analysis

Roof lights

Front accessible basement

Roof pitch/design

Roof lights visible

General condition

Front Garden

Building height

Envelope material

Roof material

Roof Pitch/design

Building typology

Envelop material

There are over a hundred listed buildings in the Trinity conservation area, and all but a handful are limited to private access. The survey conducted on the architecture of the area, used nine criteria: Use, Building Type, Vacancy, Height, General Condition, Roof Design, Envelope Material, Roof Covering, if Flat Rooflights are visible from the street, types of Rooflights, and Front Basement Access. Specific typologies were identified by the group, and these typologies were used to categorize possible conservation and intervention guidelines.

Many homes in the area are single family or semi-detached historic houses. Most are stone with slate roofs, some are harled or rendered and have pantiles, and the most common roof design types are hipped and cross gabled. This information was processed to assess how these buildings contributed to the area.

Trinity- Decoding the city MSc. in Architecture Conservation | Urban Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr.Ruxandra-lulia Stoica Tutor: Georgina Allison, Stuart Eydmann Group 3: Lilian Buchangroff, Karina Canclini, Yating He, Elaheh Joveini, Rebeca León Carmona, Devinth Muthusamy, Kentaro Tanaka

Architecture Analysis

1804 - John Ainslie

1800-1849 1833 - W. & A. K. Johnston

1852 – Ordnance Survey

Building relationship to street

1850-1899

Section 1

1885 – Ordnance Survey

Section 2

1904 – W. & A. K. Johnston

Section 3

Section 4

1900-1949 1941 – War Office

1964 – Ordnance Survey 1950-1999

Post 2000

A series of historic maps were alighted by common identifiers to identify the building’s age. The first buildings were erected around 1800, but only a few remain standing from this time. In the mid and late 1800’s, due to the appearance of the railroads, the area started to grow, increasing the number of houses but at the same time decreasing the size of the gardens.

The years between 1900 to 1949 testify the greatest growth in the area; here there were significant changes in the dimensions of the gardens, typologies appear and certain recreational spaces were formed. By the 1950’s, most of the area was developed, and there were very few cases of new construction that appear after the 2000's.

The spatial relationship of the structures within the landscape were investigated through a series of sections. There are four sections across important streets to understand the relationship of building height, garden size, and street width. A topographical section show that the difference is 125 metres from Edinburgh Castle down to the Firth. Trinity itself is a relatively flat area.

Topographic section

Trinity- Decoding the city MSc. in Architecture Conservation | Urban Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr.Ruxandra-lulia Stoica Tutor: Georgina Allison, Stuart Eydmann Group 3: Lilian Buchangroff, Karina Canclini, Yating He, Elaheh Joveini, Rebeca León Carmona, Devinth Muthusamy, Kentaro Tanaka

Community

SWOT analysis: Strength

Weakness

Oppotunities

Threats

Community groups

The data collected from the 2011 census found that Trinity was mainly inhabited by white British people with an age range of 34-48. By 2023 it can be inferred that the current age range is higher.

2011 Census Data

In addition to the statutory Trinity Community Council group, there are numerous specific interest community groups. Trinity Community Council's main concerns from meeting minutes are centred around daily function: Transportation and speed reduction measures, the deteriorated road surface on Trinity Road and cycle path maintenance.

Strengths: The calm quiet residential feel, the feeling of privacy from large gardens and many trees, the architectural character of the area, the access to the waterfront and cyclepaths.

Weaknesses: The lack of basic shopping amenities, the waterfront is directly adjacent to the most busy road in the conservation area and there is almost no room to walk along it and see the Firth.

Opportunities A few of the buildings along Starbank Road had previously been small-scale commercial amenities, and it would benefit the community to have some of these local commercial amenities reinstated.

The waterfront poses an opportunity for increased pedestrian and bike routes which would connect with the cycle paths and the Granton link.

Threats: Well meaning but poorly executed human intervention on historic fabric and lack of understanding about the conservation area from the local population.

The analysis was supported by an interview with the chair of the Trinity Community Council and his expirience of living in the area over the last 30 years. People move from New Town to Trinity in order to have a garden, that once they move to the area they tend to stary for the long term, which is why there are so many extensions and infill developments. Residents are very reliant on their cars, many leave the area every day. The residents are concerned about the increase in east/west traffic with the developments that will take place in Granton and Leith, and hope that the waterfront road does not become a trunk road. The residents would benefit from low-impact development along the waterfrom to allow pedestrians, cyclists, cars, and buses to more safely and effectively share the limited space. One of the most loved locations in the area is the Starbank Park.

Green space

Side walk

Bus line

Grocery

Airbnb

Hotels

Most roads in Trinity have well-maintained sidewalks on both sides to promote pedestrian access. There are many mature trees throughout the area in private gardens and in public greenspaces. Trinity was designated as an Air Quality Management Area; nine bus lines connect it to New town, Old town, Leith and Edinburgh Airport. There is the trend of converting homes into short term leases.

There is only one grocery store located within Trinity which shows the lack of amenities in the area.

Trinity- Decoding the city MSc. in Architecture Conservation | Urban Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr.Ruxandra-lulia Stoica Tutor: Georgina Allison, Stuart Eydmann Group 3: Lilian Buchangroff, Karina Canclini, Yating He, Elaheh Joveini, Rebeca León Carmona, Devinth Muthusamy, Kentaro Tanaka

Proposals Based on the previous architectural analysis, buildings in the area were determined as contributing, neutral, or detrimental to the area. Listed building were shaded, and one building was scheduled for demolition. Proposals for the Areas of Opportunities focus on the development of the waterfront, the return of some buildings to smallscale commercial use, and solar added as permitted development on flat synthetic roofs. Three tenement buildings along the waterfront were identified as good options for converting the ground floor level to local small-scale commercial use. This would provide some of the amenities that the community is missing. Shops such as a local butcher, bakery, coffee shop or small library would provide gathering spaces for locals. Solar panels on flat synthetic roofs could be considered permitted development for the area, helping as Edinburgh moves towards net zero.

The Edinburgh council already has documentation to help owners, businesses, listed buildings and conservation areas to manage their properties. The guidelines to repair, maintain, manage had been prepared in reference to these resources, and based on the site analysis.

The majority of the proposals center of the waterfront between the pump station and the Newhaven harbour. One is a cantilever pier which links Trinity Cycle paths and the pedestrian access through Newhaven.

This proposal respects marine life along the waterfront, and would make pedestrian and cyclists safer. There are two proposal options in term of tram safeguards, responding to conflicting city and community desires.

Waterfront proposal

Repair and Maintenance

To preserve the character of the trinity Conservation area, density and height limitations should be made regarding the construction in front gardens, such as extensions and garages. For approved interventions, appropriate cladding materials and porus pavement surfaces should be followed.

TRINITY AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY

LEGENDS Listed Building: Category A Listed Building: Category B Listed Building: Category C BUILDINGS

Buildings that contribute strongly to the character of the area for which retention and careful evaluation of future interventions are advisable Buildings that are neutral from the point of view of the character of the area, for which replacement is possible, but are advised to be within the existing footprint and volume Buildings that detract from the specific character of the area, for which re-modelling or replacement is advisable in the future, in order to achieve a better architectural quality and integration with the historic urban fabric

First Floor to Small Scale Commercial Solar Pannel on Flat Roof Permitted Development Future Garage Reuse Natura Conservation Areas

TRINITY AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY

Buildings that detract from the specific character of the area, for which demolition is advisable to achieve a better quality and integration Water Green Areas that contribute strongly to the specific character, for which retention is advisable Conservation Area Boundary WATERFRONT PROPOSAL

Proposed Buffer Zone boundary

Cantiliver pier Tram Spot Safeguard Tram Line Safeguard Natura Conservation Areas

The impact assessment was conducted following the UNESCO guidance. With proper implementation, the impact of the proposals would be largely positive. More public transport, the extra space for pedestrian and bike links, the addition of local commercial amenities, and the permitted development of solar panels on flat roofs would positively impact the area.

Trinity- Decoding the city MSc. in Architecture Conservation | Urban Conservation | 2022-2023 Course leader: Dr.Ruxandra-lulia Stoica Tutor: Georgina Allison, Stuart Eydmann Group 3: Lilian Buchangroff, Karina Canclini, Yating He, Elaheh Joveini, Rebeca León Carmona, Devinth Muthusamy, Kentaro Tanaka

LEGENDS Listed Building: Category A Listed Building: Category B Listed Building: Category C Buildings that contribute strongly to the character of the area for which retention and careful evaluation of future interventions are advisable Buildings that are neutral from the point of view of the character of the area, for which replacement is possible, but are advised to be within the existing footprint and volume Buildings that detract from the specific character of the area, for which re-modelling or replacement is advisable in the future, in order to achieve a better architectural quality and integration with the historic urban fabric Buildings that detract from the specific character of the area, for which demolition is advisable to achieve a better quality and integration Water Green Areas that contribute strongly to the specific character, for which retention is advisable Conservation Area Boundary Proposed Buffer Zone boundary