Why Edinburgh is extending parking controls...
Edinburgh’s narrow, winding streets and historic tenements are part of its considerable charm – but they also mean there’s limited room for residents to park on-street.
Even on streets with detached houses, if you add in commuter parking in residential areas, sometimes there’s simply not enough room for residents to park near their homes.
Residents, community groups and local councillors asked for the original Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in 1974 to stop commuters from parking in residential areas.
In recent years, residents and councillors again asked for more controls as commuters and other long-stay visitors were parking on residential streets around the edge of the existing zone.
We realise it can be difficult for some commuters to use public transport, but we’d encourage them to look at other options such as park and rides, rather than parking on residential streets.
New flexible parking bays prove popular
Throughout the CPZ extension, we are introducing a new type of parking bay – the shared-use bay. These bays can be used by both residents and pay and display motorists.
In the past, we have placed pay and display bays near shops to make sure that customers always had space to park, but the new shared-use bays make room for both residents and shop customers.
Shared-use bays were trialled in the existing CPZ in Moray Place and Heriot Row, and proved very popular with residents, giving them 110 extra places to park. Shared-use bays will be introduced throughout the existing zone in the future.
Next zones in March
Two new zones, S2 and S3, began operating on 5 March.
S3 was originally scheduled to begin operating in January and the neighbouring zone, S2, in November 2007.
Introducing the two zones together will ensure commuters and other long-stay visitors won’t be able to park in one zone while the other is being built. Otherwise, this would have meant there was even less parking available for residents in S2.
| Operating Date | Zone No. |
Area | Construction Started/starts |
| 5 March 2007 | S3 | Merchiston | October 2006 |
| | S2 | Greenhill/Morningside | October 2006 |
| 16 July 2007 | N3 | Comely Bank - (South of Comely Bank Road) | April 2007 |
| | S4 | Dalry/Fountainbridge | April 2007 |
| 5 November 2007 | N3 | Comely Bank - (North of Comely Bank Road) | summer 2007 |
| | N4 | Craigleith | summer 2007 |
| | N5 | Orchard Brae/Coates | summer 2007 |
How can I find out more information on the CPZ extension?
See: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/cpzextension, e-mail: cpz.extension@edinburgh.gov.uk or call 0131 200 2310.