Plans include a variety of enhancements to Princes Street, the Gardens and surrounding area. 

This includes a widened pavement by 1.5 metres at the southern footway of Princes Street, with a new stone pavement installed, improved accessibility for Princes Street Gardens with new ramps or possibly lifts installed. 

This also includes upgrade and refurbishment work to the Ross Bandstand and amphitheatre, shelters in Princes Street gardens repurposed for use as small cafes and possibly community use. 

Also included in the plans are new or improved public toilets and drinking fountains, a new cycle hub at Waverley Station with safe cycle access and better cycle parking along Princes Street.

Additionally, the plans include the narrowing of the carriageway at the south side to allow for greater space for walking and wheeling, and the possibility of a new bus gate at the east end of Princes Street in a bid to tackle congestion. 

The design approach builds on the outcome of discussions at a workshop during June where councillors, officers and representatives from organisations including Historic Environment Scotland, Lothian Buses and Edinburgh Trams, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Essential Edinburgh, Network Rail and Edinburgh Access Panel, as well as others met to listen to proposals and give feedback.

During Transport and Environment and Finance and Resources committees, individual project plans such as designs and costs for the works will be taken forward. 

It was also agreed that early next year a revised Princes Street and Waverley Strategy will come back to Committee. 

Councillor Joan Griffiths, planning convener, said: “Princes Street is already going through considerable change and improvement, attracting millions pounds of new investment – but we know there’s still more to be done.

“The way forward we’ve agreed today is a positive step forward – and my thanks to officers for their hard work in getting us to this point.”

Griffiths added: “This is a sensible and pragmatic approach that takes on board much of what we heard during the public consultation, particularly around improving accessibility.

“Crucially, this differs from previous plans in that it is affordable and deliverable, and we have the resources to take forward these improvements immediately.”