What action it will take to ensure that there will be sufficient (a) housing, (b) GP and other health services, (c) trunk road capacity and…

The current Infrastructure Investment Plan sets out our key priorities including the delivery of 50,000 affordable homes by 2021, the expansion of early learning and childcare, the extension of broadband, as well as investment in healthcare and transport infrastructure which will benefit people all across Scotland. This is supported by our commitment to spend £4 billion on infrastructure in 2018-19.
Scotland’s third National Planning Framework (NPF3) states that a planned approach to development in the Edinburgh city region will be required to ensure that development needs are met, whilst taking into account existing and future infrastructure priorities. SESplan, the Strategic Development Plan (SDP) for the South East of Scotland, is required to take the National Planning Framework into account and to develop a plan, informed among other things, by economic forecasts and an assessment of housing need and demand. Its constituent authorities are: City of Edinburgh, West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian, Fife and the Scottish Borders. The first SESPlan was approved by Ministers in June 2013. SESplan is in the process of being reviewed and, following Examination, is expected to be with Ministers for approval shortly. Within this context, it is the responsibility of the local authorities to prepare local development plans for their areas to address development, housing, transport, health and other infrastructure needs, and to work with relevant agencies where appropriate, including NHS Lothian and Transport Scotland.
Transport Scotland led a Working Group comprising SESplan, SEStran and the constituent Local Authorities with the aim to assess the cumulative impacts of development on the strategic transport network within the SESplan Strategic Development Plan area, with a particular focus on cross boundary travel. This work is now informing further work by the local partners on considering links with planning process, developer contributions and potential means of delivery. Key Scottish Government transport related commitments included in the Heads of Terms for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal are for up to £120m to support improvements to the A720 City Bypass for the grade separation of Sheriffhall Roundabout and £20m investment to support public transport infrastructure improvements identified by the West Edinburgh Transport Appraisal. Work has begun on a comprehensive review of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) and the National Transport Strategy (NTS). The second STPR will be taken forward in the current Parliament and will be a nationwide, multi-modal, objective led and evidence based review of the existing performance and future requirements of Scotland’s national strategic transport networks.
It is the responsibility of NHS Lothian, in conjunction with the local Integrated Joint Boards (IJBs), to develop a capital investment strategy which addresses the requirements for GP and other health related services in the Lothian area. Any additional investment will need to be submitted to the Scottish Government's NHS Capital Investment Group for review and consideration.