A DOCKLAND development is having to be redrafted after planners were alerted to the presence of Britain's biggest tern colony, The Scotsman has learned.
Developers behind the transformation of Edinburgh's waterfront have had to go back to the drawing board to protect 900 breeding pairs of the birds on an island in Leith Docks.
New walkways and bridges have had to be relocated, the heights of new
apartment blocks have been halved and a new cultural centre has been moved away from the colony.
The plans have been redrawn after Scottish Natural Heritage warned the developers, Forth Ports and Edinburgh City Council, that the island – about 200m north-east of the Ocean Terminal shopping centre – is home to about 5 per cent of the British common tern population.
The dockland development is the biggest planning application ever to come before Edinburgh City Council and would see about 350 hectares of land transformed into nine urban villages.
New cafés, bars, restaurants, schools, parks, marinas and a cultural quarter are also envisaged as part of the "Forth Riviera".
But development is expected to be banned within a 100-metre zone around the island, and no buildings higher than three storeys will be allowed.
One insider said: "It was fairly well known that there was a tern colony in this area, but it wasn't until fairly late in the day, when environment consultants were brought in, that it became clear how significant it was."
Michaela Sullivan, the head of planning at Forth Ports, said: "We are pretty hopeful all the issues involving the Imperial Dock Lock can be resolved over the next few months.
"We've had to redesign a few elements of the scheme, because we didn't want to risk any kind of legal challenge at a later date, as the tern colony is protected by European legislation."
Iain Rennick, the area manager for SNH, said: "The development is likely to have a significant effect on the Imperial Dock Lock special protection area, in terms of bird disturbance, lighting, glazing/collision, loss of habitat, overshadowing from buildings, encroachment, pollution and noise.
"We are working with the council and the developers to make sure that all issues are considered and resolved before the development is approved."
Dave Anderson, Edinburgh council's director of city development, said: "My understanding is that the issues are being largely resolved. I don't think there will be any serious delay in the development now."
FACT BOX• THE silvery-grey and white appearance and long tail of the common tern has earned it the nickname "sea swallow".
• They have a graceful flight and frequently hover over water before diving for a fish.
• Common terns are often noisy in company and breed in colonies.
• Breeding areas include along coasts with shingle beaches and rocky islands, on rivers with shingle bars, and at inland gravel pits and reservoirs, feeding along rivers and over freshwater. They usually arrive in the UK in April and leave in August or September.
• Like many white terns, it is very defensive of its nest and young and will attack humans and other large predators, usually swerving off at the last moment.
The full article contains 535 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
