{"id":961798,"date":"2026-05-15T15:20:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:20:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/961798\/"},"modified":"2026-05-15T15:20:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T15:20:15","slug":"edinburgh-residents-to-vote-on-projects-funded-by-2m-visitor-levy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/961798\/","title":{"rendered":"Edinburgh residents to vote on projects funded by \u00a32m visitor levy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n  Under the scheme, residents will be able to vote on local projects through a dedicated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edinburgh.gov.uk\/visitorlevy?ref=ed_direct\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">online portal.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  A total of \u00a31.7 million will be invested across the city over three years, while \u00a3300,000 will be used to administer and promote the programme.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Each ward will receive \u00a320,000 during the 2026\/27 financial year, with additional funding distributed over the following two years.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The amount allocated to each area will also take account of local need and population levels.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The council said the programme would run initially as a one-year pilot to assess how effective it is before potential future expansion.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The participatory budgeting process will include three stages: community idea generation, project proposals from organisations and public voting on shortlisted schemes.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Projects selected by residents will then be delivered by external groups and organisations within each ward.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The council said the programme would work alongside existing community funding schemes already operating in parts of Edinburgh.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The initiative forms part of a wider \u00a390 million investment package linked to Edinburgh\u2019s visitor levy over the next three years.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  The levy, approved in January 2025, applies a five per cent charge to the accommodation cost of overnight stays booked after October 1, 2025, for stays taking place from July 24, 2026 onwards.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Edinburgh City Council estimates the levy could raise up to \u00a350 million annually to support projects aimed at improving the city for residents and visitors.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  Margaret Graham, culture and communities convener at Edinburgh City Council, said: \u201cSome of our communities have already experienced and benefitted from other PB programmes in Edinburgh, but this is the biggest and first to be delivered across the whole of the city.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  \u201cWe\u2019ve specifically designed this programme to complement existing schemes, and we\u2019re proud that residents in every ward across the city will soon benefit from an equal share of some of the funds provided by the visitor levy.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  \u201cThis means visitors to Edinburgh are contributing towards local projects that benefit us all in the places we live, work and visit ourselves.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  \u201cThere are going to be plenty of opportunities for people to participate and have their say on the kinds of projects they\u2019d like to see improve their local areas.\n<\/p>\n<p>\n  \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to seeing the first sets of project ideas take shape, and how our communities engage with this process.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Under the scheme, residents will be able to vote on local projects through a dedicated online portal. 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