Tenement Back Green

A back green is the shared external space traditionally found behind many Edinburgh tenements. Historically these areas provided practical communal space for residents, including places for drying washing and carrying out everyday household activities.

The size, layout and present-day use of back greens varies considerably. Some remain predominantly planted communal gardens, while others contain paved areas, bin stores, cycle storage, paths, boundary walls and access to the rear of the tenement.

For renovation and building projects, the back green can also be relevant to practical matters such as contractor access, scaffolding, drainage, external pipework and work to shared masonry or other communal parts of the building. As a communal area, proposed changes should not be treated in the same way as alterations to privately owned garden space.