PLANS have been lodged for a new public art installation, made entirely of concrete, in a park in Bingham in the south of Edinburgh.
The plans have been submitted by the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (WWCT) (formerly known as Sustrans), cycling charity and custodians of the National Cycling Network with support from the City of Edinburgh Council.
The artwork, which features an orange circular motif supported by a longer, grey, right-angled piece of concrete, has been designed by Littlewhitehead, a duo of Scottish artists.
It is hoped that the artwork, which will be adjacent to a stretch of the National Cycle Network which runs through a green space in Bingham, would make the “underutilised” park more inviting and accessible.
The installation will provide a striking landmark to what is a mostly barren and neglected green space (C) Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Littlewhitehead is a duo of two Scottish collaborative artists whose work “investigates how sculpture, relief, and painting can capture memory, touch, and the stories of a place”.
If approved by the city council, the new installation would sit alongside a shared use path, providing a point of interest in the greenspace near the old south Edinburgh railway.
The circular orange section and the larger, rectangular section would both be made of concrete and would be supported by concrete foundations.
The structure, in total, will be 2.65m tall and 0.7m wide at its foundational base layer, with the main components of the artwork being 0.4m wide.
In a statement today, WWCT explained the rationale for the installation’s location: “This project builds on the success of the 2024 Connect project which saw a new mural painted in the nearby Niddrie/Bingham Tunnel – aiming to make it feel like a safer and more pleasant place.
“As well as the mural, the project also improved lighting in the tunnel, with work carried out by City of Edinburgh Council Lighting Department.
“During the Connect project an intern programme was created.
“This gave 3 local young people the opportunity to gain skills and experience in community engagement and public art, whilst being paid the Real Living Wage.
“Following the project, 100% of post-survey respondents agreed that the artwork made the route more attractive, with 85% saying that it increased their enjoyment of the route.”
They added: “The Bingham Medway Park project will build on the positive relationships that were fostered during the previous tunnel project, both with young people and the wider community.
“With ongoing issues of anti-social behaviour, the aim is to continue making the area more attractive and feel like a safer place for all local people to spend time in.”
The project is full funded by the Scottish Government via Walk Wheel Cycle Trust’s National Cycle Network Development programme.
In a statement, Littlewhitehead explained the design and material choices, saying: “We aim to create a practice that goes beyond aesthetics, considering the long-term impact of our work on the environment, communities, and future generations.
“This project is considered holistically within this vision.
“Concrete has been chosen as the primary material because it allows for an extremely durable, low-maintenance work within budget.
“To reduce the environmental impact, we are using recycled aggregates sourced locally.
“One of the areas of greatest waste in our practice is mould-making, which traditionally relies on single-use virgin materials.
“We have developed a new process using primarily wax, which can be remelted and reused repeatedly, significantly reducing production waste.
“Although concrete can attract negative opinions, we are introducing pigmentation to enhance colour and ensure the work responds sensitively to its surrounding landscape.”
They added: “The design is intended to be visible from surrounding paths, allowing people to experience it even if they do not approach it directly.
“Up close, the concrete will feature tactile recesses, possibly an extruded name plaque, and textures to explore by touch.
“The base of the sculpture will retain rainwater, adding a secondary material and a playful element for children to interact with.”
The Trust have now commenced a wider consultation with locals and community groups (C) Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Information about the artwork has also been included in the design, with the name of the artwork, identity of the artists and commissioners, as well as date of completion included.
The design for the installation has been in the works for some months now, with the WWCT and Littlewhitehead engaging with locals, art groups, and stakeholders.
Art Buds Collective, a social enterprise aimed at sustainable art education for children, facilitated an extensive community engagement, with over 200 adults and children from local schools asked for their views on the project.
In a design statement, WWCT said of the consultation: “The idea of a site-specific artwork has been met with enthusiasm and a resoundingly positive response from local residents.
“During workshops we have visited the site with groups and encouraged a direct response to place, sharing images of public artwork and surveying path users.
“Local children say they do not see the area as a park or as an inviting space to visit.
“Both children and adults comment that cyclists speed up along the main path and create anxiety amongst the elderly and those with young children and dogs.
“Non-residents cycling or walking say they would be happy to engage with artwork and felt the area is underused.
“Local residents have requested the creation of safe space adjacent to the cycle path.”
WWCT says that further engagement with residents who live in close proximity to the project will be conducted while the planning application progresses.
A preliminary ecological assessment of the area surrounding the proposed installation was carried out, with no adverse impacts to protected species or greenspace amenity being identified.
City planners will make a decision on the proposals by 13 February.
It is hoped that the artwork’s construction will be completed sometime in May 2026.
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