Friday June 19th 2026
Edinburgh Tram
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Council groups appear split over whether or how Edinburgh’s projected new tram line should reach the north of the city.
But at Thursday’s transport committee meeting, a majority of members managed to back a consistent position on how the upcoming strategic business case (SBC) should be handled.
Committee convener and Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “We have to see all the data and evidence along with the consultation at the right, appropriate time [in September].
“I think it would be a waste of money to not finish the job. The task at hand is to complete the SBC which will be heard at the very next committee.”
His position, modified by contributions by other parties, set out some final guidelines for how the SBC will look.
Councillors celebrated the consultation carried out ahead of the meeting, which garnered almost 11,500 answers.
A report prepared by officers before the meeting also contained the results of market research on the project.
Cllr Jenkinson blocked the Conservative group from moving a motion that, if supported, would have put a halt to the SBC, expected to come in three months.
The SBC will provide suggestions for councillors for a firm next step on the project, which may include proceeding with the project as outlined, proceeding with parts of it, or pausing it, all subject to funding.
It will also project funding requirements for an outline business case, the next stage in funding and completing the project.
Despite the broad agreement among councillors, not all are united on the project.
Liberal Democrat councillor Kevin Lang said: “It is clear that it is extremely strong views and wide opposition to using that route. There is also concern about using the Orchard Brae route.
“Overall you see a lot of concern about this route in its totality. I think a lot of people are still scarred by the experience of the first tram line.
“We have this unresolved question of how this will be funded.”
Meanwhile, SNP councillor Danny Aston said: “We are clear that if the SBC looks positive, as we think and hope that it will, proceeding with the southern leg which is the part of the entire proposed network where the patronage modelling looks best.
“If it happens, and I hope it will, it will transform how people move around our city.”
The Green group cast doubt on the northern route options, with councillor Chas Booth saying: “There’s a quote which is often attributed to US president Lyndon Baines Johnson, that the first rule of politics is to learn how to count.
“Green councillors know how to count, and we can see there is no majority support for the northern section of the route.
“We think there may be value in phasing development of the route, and focus on sections of the route where support is higher.”
Cllr Jenkinson accepted positions from other parties into his motion, which was passed 9-2. Only the Conservative councillors on the committee did not back his motion.
The Liberal Democrats secured a commitment that outline business cases for both the whole route and just the southern leg are provided in the SBC, alongside information on how much has been spent on the project so far.
Meanwhile, the SNP gained a commitment that the SBC would include study of ‘delivering discrete sections’ of the northern route.
And the Greens won “options and suggested prioritisation or phasing for specific elements of the route” in the motion.
Cllr Jenkinson said: “Consultation is a very important part of the process. It isn’t a referendum on what you like and what you don’t like, it’s actually part of the process.
“It allows officers to develop their thinking and their ideas as they go forward. Over the summer, we can consume that information as we move towards September when we will consider the strategic business case with regards to this programme of work.”
The Conservative group on the council, not allowed to put forward their motion, elected to put forward the report from officers without any modifications.
Group leader, Councillor Iain Whyte, said the project was a ‘hallucination’, and would be for a long time.
He added: “A de-facto decision here about the northern section of the route, you’re accepting various addenda.
“The public say they’re opposed to this. But nobody’s going to listen to them. We’re going to ignore them today, and we’re going to keep spending money.
“We’re spending money right now on officers, and time, that could be diverted to other things. We’re thanking the public, but we’re not listening to them.
“So much for democracy.”
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