City of Edinburgh Council Licensing Hub upgrade aims to ease taxi and private hire testing pressures
- Perry Richardson
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Edinburgh’s Licensing Hub is preparing to move into a new £2.1 million testing and administration facility at South Gyle as the city council looks to improve taxi and private hire vehicle testing capacity and respond to industry concerns over appointment availability and customer service.
A report due before the City of Edinburgh Council Regulatory Committee on 19 May shows the current Licensing Hub handled 7,999 ramp bookings during the 2024/25 financial year, with 591 missed appointments representing 7.4% of all bookings. Annual first-time inspection pass rates improved to 64% overall for Edinburgh-licensed vehicles, up from 55% in 2018. Taxi first-time pass rates reached 59%, while private hire cars recorded 66%.
Council officials linked the improved pass rates to Edinburgh’s age and emissions policy, which has raised the standard of vehicles entering the licensed fleet. The report stated that failed inspections were commonly linked to safety-critical defects involving brakes, tyres, steering, seat belts, suspension and vehicle lighting.
The relocation follows operational disruption caused by the partial closure of the Murrayburn Road garage facility in November 2022 because of roof safety concerns. Since then, the Licensing Hub has operated with a reduced number of testing ramps and relied on staff overtime to maintain annual inspection schedules.
New £2.1 million South Gyle facility set to expand vehicle testing capacity as drivers call for longer opening hours and improved customer facilities
The new South Gyle site will include four ramps, including two capable of handling heavier accessible vehicles. The council said the upgraded facility will allow a more integrated testing process, with inspection results automatically uploaded to the DVSA system. The redesign is also expected to reduce staffing requirements for each inspection from two staff members to one examiner, increasing throughput capacity.
Alongside the operational update, council officers published the findings of a customer satisfaction survey completed by 201 taxi and private hire trade respondents in January 2025. The majority of respondents were private hire drivers or taxi drivers, with 66% saying their most recent visit related to a vehicle compliance check.
The survey found strong demand for extended operating hours. Forty-five percent of respondents backed Saturday morning appointments, while 38% supported weekday afternoon extensions and 33% wanted evening opening between 5pm and 8pm. Several drivers cited lost earnings caused by weekday testing appointments conflicting with school contracts, shift work and daytime operating schedules.
Feedback on service quality was mixed. Around half of respondents rated vehicle test availability and appointment times as good, while 64% rated examiner service positively. However, written submissions repeatedly criticised waiting times, limited facilities and communication issues. Multiple drivers called for toilets, vending machines, waiting areas and clearer guidance on testing requirements.
Several operators also raised concerns over delays in processing applications, inconsistent advice from staff and difficulties using the online application system. Some respondents questioned the growing pressure on the Licensing Hub from increased private hire applications, while others argued the service had improved in recent years following staffing changes.
Council officers said further service improvements are planned following the South Gyle move. Measures under consideration include a new online booking system, on-site application support and a “floor walker” role to assist applicants during visits. The council will also examine the feasibility of longer operating hours as part of a wider Regulatory Services review.
The Licensing Hub also carries out testing work on behalf of West Lothian and Midlothian councils, with costs recovered through taxi and private hire licensing fees.
