Community: Portobello, Endinburgh

Voted the best neighbourhood in the UK and Ireland at the 2020 Urbanism Awards, the seaside suburb of Portobello is home to a very socially diverse population.

Despite its status as a highly desirable suburb of Edinburgh with good facilities and access into Edinburgh, the neighbourhood has avoided the levels of gentrification that many similar areas have faced elsewhere, and Portobello continues to support a range of local shops and facilities that appeal to a cross-section of society.

A strong sense of community and pride is also evident within the neighbourhood, which has resulted in a number of significant community-led projects being brought forward. Most notably the community purchase of Portobello Old Parish Church, the first community buy-out of its kind, is now home to a thriving venue for arts events.