THURSDAY 13 JUNE 3 – 7pm
MARRIOT DELTA, 111 GLASGOW ROAD
THE city council would like your views on revised plans for a major expansion of West Edinburgh based on feedback from residents, businesses and Scottish Government.
Come to Tweed Room, Marriott Delta, 111 Glasgow Rd, Thursday 13 June 3pm to 7pm or fill in our survey at http://edinburgh.gov.uk/westedinburgh
Proposals for a mixed-use development at Ocean Point in Leith have been granted planning consent, subject to conditions, by councillors on Edinburgh’s Development Management Sub-Committee yesterday (15th May).
The development at Ocean Point 2, being progressed by property developer S Harrison Developments, will comprise residential and purpose-built student accommodation, along with commercial uses/co-working and amenity space.
The over £80 million development will add to the ongoing transformation of Leth’s Waterfront through delivering a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood.
Neighbouring Ocean Point 1, the development of the brownfield site will provide two buildings and comprise a mix of build-to-rent homes (BTR), including apartments specifically for families, alongside purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), delivering a truly mixed community.
In total, 112 BTR homes are proposed, providing a mix of studio, one-bed, two-bed and three-bed apartments to meet a range of housing needs. A quarter of these are three-bed apartments designed for families, and a quarter of the apartments will be affordable housing.
There are 404 PBSA beds on offer, split between cluster accommodation and studio bedrooms. The former accommodation is intended to be a mix of five and six bedrooms.
Commercial space/co-working and amenity space are also proposed as part of Ocean Point 2, offering fantastic active frontage to Ocean Drive, with greatly enhanced public realm encouraging active lifestyles.
In addition to delivering homes, the new development will deliver significant local spend, amounting to some £5.3 million by residents and visitors annually, supporting an estimated 60 retail and leisure jobs. It has been estimated that 325 jobs will be created directly in the construction of the overall scheme.
The development neighbours Ocean Terminal, which is undergoing a £100 million transformation, delivering a mixed-use development comprising residential, commercial, retail and hospitality.
The extension of the tram line between Edinburgh and Ocean Terminal also provides connectivity between the development and Edinburgh city centre within 20 minutes.
Harrison has a long pedigree of working in the city, ranging from delivering the Malmaison at St Andrew Square, to student developments at Westfield and Gorgie, and hotel development at Osborne House, Haymarket.
A spokesperson for Harrison Developments commented: “We are delighted that we have received a green light for our planning application. This will serve to deliver much-needed homes and student accommodation to an area which is undergoing a rapid transformation, delivering a truly mixed sustainable neighbourhood.
“Regenerating a current brownfield site, this development boasts excellent transport links, especially with the new tram line, and will deliver a significant investment into the local area.
“We look forward to continuing to engage with the local community and the Council as we seek to deliver this development.”
Planning and development consultancy Turley provided planning services for the project with CDA acting as architects.
New polling by YouGov, commissioned by CPRE, the countryside charity, has revealed that half of people who object to new housing in their local area would support them if the homes were affordable to people on average local incomes.
Whereas 41% said they did not want to see the construction of more homes close to where they live, that proportion fell to 20% if those homes were locally affordable.
So-called ‘affordable’ housing, which can currently cost anything up to 80% of market rates, is usually anything but. CPRE is calling on the government to redefine the term in housing policy and link it directly to local incomes.
The results of the poll, carried out by YouGov, show that this change would encourage many people to support developments to which they would previously have objected.
The poll also showed an increase in support for new homes from 50% to 71% if they were built on brownfield land. There are enough ‘shovel-ready’ brownfield sites in England for 1.2 million new homes.
Building them could provide people with genuinely affordable housing – close to where they already live, work and go to school – and protect the countryside at the same time.
This is a major endorsement of the brownfield-first house building policy, which is critical to reducing the need to build on Green Belt land that could otherwise support nature restoration and other environmental benefits such as flood defences.
Developments in the Green Belt have been shown to underdeliver on affordability, while research published by CPRE in 2023 showed social homes accounted for less than 5% of those built on Green Belt land.
“The Green Belt is the countryside next door for 30 million people in the UK. It should be improved and protected to help us tackle the major environmental challenges we face, not covered with large, car-dependent ‘executive’ homes that local people neither want nor can afford.
CPRE chief executive Roger Mortlock said: ‘The results of this poll tell us that people want new homes to be affordable for local people and built on brownfield sites. Both are possible with enough political will and we want to see all parties make strong pledges to deliver that.
‘We need to move away from the idea that people in the countryside are against development. They want the same things as everyone else: housing on a scale and at a cost that’s appropriate for their local community that respects environmental limits.
“Land is this country in a finite resource and our countryside is working harder than ever to meet the multiple environmental and social challenges we face.
“For new housing we should prioritise inner-city brownfield development, urban densification and regeneration of towns, delivering the homes we need today while safeguarding the countryside for future generations to enjoy.’
PLANS to redevelop a corner plot in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable aareas have resurfaced with a switch from private flats to a care home in response to an ageing population profile.
Northcare has chosen a 0.56-hectare site at the corner of St John’s Road and Manse Road, launching a public consultation on its plans for a 60-bed unit designed by Unum.
Proposed Development
Being undertaken by award-winning operator Northcare (Scotland) Ltd, this proposed mixed-use development includes a 60-bed luxury care home, five assisted living apartments and ground floor commercial units facing onto St-John’s Road, all within a high-quality landscaped setting.
If consented, the care home complex will address an identified demand for care beds in the local area, exceeding expectations by providing high-quality care accommodation.
One floor (a third of the building) will be devoted to dementia care, and the care home will also provide residents’ entertainment spaces including private dining facilities, cinema, activity rooms, beauty salon, cafe/brasserie and gallery. These allow the residents to enjoy a “day out” without the need to leave the home. The cafe/brasserie and beauty salon will also be accessible to the public, and in addition to this two commercial units will be available for rent.
A residents’ amenity space and activity room will be located on the top floor of the care home. Benefiting from extensive glazing and an external terrace, this will take advantage of the views over Edinburgh towards the Pentland Hills and beyond.
The proposed development is set within an attractive landscape, enhancing the local area, and includes the creation of a secure landscaped garden to the rear of the property.
The site is directly accessible to a range of services, facilities and amenities, and is served by direct access to the public road network with good pedestrian, cycle and public transport access for both visitors and staff.
Ten car parking spaces are proposed, including two universally accessible and two electric vehicle charge points (EVCP). Secure and covered cycle stands, encouraging sustainable modes of travel, will also be provided.
Echoing the prior Michael Laird scheme the latest proposals include a dedicated dementia floor and secure landscaped grounds as well as a top-floor glazed amenity space with an outdoor terrace. Spread across six independent living wings the ‘L’ plan build is served by a double-height entrance lobby with services located in a partial lower ground floor.
Key Benefits
Regenerating this brownfield site, the development will bring a number of benefits to the local community:
Addressing an ageing population
As is well-recognised, Scotland is currently in the midst of a care crisis, with limited lifestyle choices for elderly residents requiring care services. The current stock of care homes and supported housing is not able to meet the future demand of care requirements within Edinburgh.
With an increasingly ageing population, this situation is set to worsen, with the level of bed demand set to almost double over the next 30 years.
A shortfall of care home provision in the wider area has been demonstrated by a Demographic and Needs Analysis Review, prepared to support the development. Much of the existing stock is not fit for purpose and requires to be modernised and upgraded to meet Care Inspectorate standards of provision.
It is anticipated that a proportion of those in the new home will be from the local community, and thereby already registered with a local GP. In addition to this, we partner up with GP practices and pay a private retainer to allow them to get sufficient resources to support our care homes. As an example, we already have such an agreement in place with Blackhall Medical Centre.
A new care complex such as that proposed will improve choice and in due course release housing locally.
Employment and investment
Northcare (Scotland) Ltd will acts as both the developer and operator of the facility, which will see a capital investment of £15 million from buying the site to development. The mixed-use development aims towards net-zero, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving gold standard.
In addition to the construction phase, when operational it is anticipated that 70 permanent jobs will be created at a range of levels and in a variety of trades, including care assistants, housekeeping staff, managers and chefs.
A cafe/brasserie and hair salon will be accessible to the public, and in addition to this two commercial units will be available for rent.
The proposed much-needed accommodation for an ever-increasing elderly population will allow them to live their lives with dignity and independence, with special assistance on hand, exceeding the requirements of the Care Inspectorate regulations.
Community Consultation
NORTHCARE says: ‘We strongly believe in the need for ongoing dialogue regarding our care home proposals, and through a meaningful and effective pre-application consultation (PAC) process are engaging early on with the local community and other key stakeholders.
As what is classed as a major development and in accordance with the planning regulations, a minimum 12-week period of consultation in advance of the submission of the planning application is required. This includes the holding of at least two public consultation events.
Through this process we are promising to consult and listen carefully to your views, making changes where possible to inform and improve our proposals, prior to the submission of a planning application to City of Edinburgh Council. This is anticipated to take place in April 2024.
Consultation Event
A second public consultation event will be held on Wednesday 28th February at Corstorphine Community Centre, 5 Kirk Loan, Corstorphine between 2pm and 7pm (the first was held on 31 January).
Consultation boards will be available to view, providing information on the proposals, with the project team on hand to explain and answer questions, and the opportunity to provide feedback, which will play a crucial role in refining and enhancing our plans.
This event seek to progress and update the proposals following feedback from the first consultation event held at the same venue on Wednesday 31st January, considering and incorporating any amendments where appropriate.
If you want to make comments on the proposals, you may do so at the public consultation event, via the project website using the feedback form below, by email to: hello@northcare-manse.co.uk, or by writing to: Orbit Communications, 42 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ. The deadline for receiving these is Wednesday 13th March.
Comments made do not constitute representations to City of Edinburgh Council. A further opportunity to make representations to the Council will be available following formal submission of the planning application.
It is anticipated that a planning application will be submitted to City of Edinburgh Council in April and a site start is estimated by the spring of 2025.
Further information on Northcare can be found at https://www.northcare.co.uk/
Following consultation with residents and interested organisations in and around the west of the city a final framework for development will be considered by the Planning Committee on 19 December.
Development in the west of Edinburgh forms part of the draft City Plan 2030, currently being considered by the Scottish Government. Therefore, if approved by committee, The West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework and Strategic Masterplan (WEPFSM) will be implemented when City Plan 2030 is adopted. The masterplan would then be used as a material consideration as non-statutory guidance for future planning applications.
The framework was informed by previous work on this area and a 12-week consultation from July to October last year for land extending from Eastfield Road in the west to Maybury junction in the east, with Edinburgh Airport and Turnhouse Road to the north.
There are a range of new opportunities for new homes and other uses in this area as set out in City Plan 2030. The aim is to create new 20 minute neighbourhoods to help Edinburgh toward its housing and net zero ambition, with a range of facilities which people will need to live well locally such as schools and medical centres.
Hundreds of people took part in the consultation either online or in person at drop in sessions or focus groups we held. Meetings also took place with key developers and landowners.
A major theme from the consultation was having excellent transport links in the area including active travel routes and public transport. These objectives are all at the core of the proposed WEPFEM and tie in with the wider Broxburn to Maybury Transport Improvements – a major transport improvement project for area.
The project is funded through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. The plan is to have better connected communities with major employment, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities easily accessible. This will also make it easier for more people to make a greater number of journeys by bus or by cycling, walking or wheeling.
An overarching vision on how the west of the city could be developed over the next 30 years – Towards West Edinburgh 2050 – was also published for discussion last year.
Planning Convener Cllr James Dalgleish said: “I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation last year. The feedback was really valuable in helping us to finalise our draft framework for committee to consider next week.
“When City Plan 2030 is adopted developers will be able to use this framework as a guide to help us create new thriving 20 minute neighbourhoods to the north of Gogarburn.
“We’re hoping to see more than 3,500 quality energy efficient affordable homes delivered. This will help us address the city’s housing emergency as well as significantly contributing to Edinburgh achieving net zero. The development will have a mix of uses such as retail, schools, healthcare and office space.
“Like other neighbourhoods in west Edinburgh these new communities will need to be well connected to the rest of the city, the wider region and beyond through improved public transport links.
“To help to reduce car use the high density 20 minute neighbourhoods created will need to be supported with a number of new bus and active travel routes and as well as the existing tram line which runs through the area.”
Canonmills is set for further residential expansion with the submission of plans to redevelop a light industrial unit at 26 Dunedin Street into student housing.
Complementing recent proposals to replace Beaverhall House and erect further student accommodation across the street, the scheme supplants an initial build-to-rent proposal with 73 student rooms.
Again led by O’DonnellBrown and HUB the latest plans call for more urban massing to frame the street with ground floor amenities, with gridded accommodation arranged around a central core.
A landscaped amenity space is proposed on a set-back upper floor with the front door recessed behind a landscaped frontage to sit better within the local context.
Specifying a mix of ‘earthy’ brick and metal cladding to reference the previously industrial character of Canonmills the project includes a landscape plan developed by MRG Studio that includes planting along Dunedin Street and Beaverhall, leading to a hard landscaped ‘makers yard’ to the east.
In a planning statement, the architects wrote: “The changing local context provides an opportunity to create and reinforce meaningful connections and new focal points.
“Alongside the proposed Beaverhall House scheme to the east, 26 Dunedin Street has the opportunity to contribute to the changing character of the Beaverhall / Dunedin Street junction, establishing a new key node in the city.”
Studio apartments range from standard 22.3sq/m to larger accessible rooms of 27.2sq/m.
GREEN LIGHT FOR THE ART WORKS IN GRANTON
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission for the National Galleries of Scotland’s exciting new community space, conservation, research and art storage facility in the heart of Granton.
The Art Works will form part of the wider regeneration of the Granton area, and will be located on a brown field site west of Madelvic House on Granton Park Avenue, within one of Scotland’s most diverse yet socioeconomically deprived areas.
The state of the art facility is designed with an innovative dual purpose, that goes beyond traditional art storage. While it will hold Scotland’s renowned art collection, it aims to make it more accessible than ever before to explore the nations art.
The Art Works will also contribute to the wellbeing and investment in the local area, offering community spaces for use by local residents, community groups and the wider public, all under one roof.
Offering an additional 11,000m² of quality space – the equivalent of two playing fields – the facility aims to make a major contribution to enhancing the local community for the long term.
The Art Works will be a world-class home for more than 120,000 works of art to be stored, cared for, conserved, and researched, while not on display in a gallery.
Storing Scotland’s extraordinary national collection in a completely new way, the public will be able to explore, discover, and engage with the art like never before. The building will also be a key focal point for community investment, pride and growth.
Inside there will be spaces for public use, including social areas and amenities for visitors’ comfort and enjoyment, such as a community studio, community support space, further education rooms and a Changing Places toilet.
This will be the only Changing Places facility available in the Granton area, and opens up the spaces for even more people to visit. These specially designed toilets enable those who need extra equipment and space to use the toilets safely and comfortably.
Sustainability is central to the National Gallery of Scotland’s vision for The Art Works. The plans include sustainable building practices which minimise energy impact and provide quality of life opportunities for the local community.
As the country’s largest cultural building designed to the Passivhaus standard, it will go beyond what is required by the Scottish Building Standards. It will be climate resilient and decarbonise the care of the nations collection.
Alongside enabling the National Galleries of Scotland to develop a vastly improved digital offering, the purpose-built facility will deliver a modern environment in which members of the public, colleagues, students and researchers can engage with the art stored there.
The historic collection of the Royal Scottish Academy will also be housed in the new building and it will also be home to the Demarco Archive. Outside, there will be activity areas that bring the natural environment to life, including new green routes through to Granton Waterfront.
Accessible to all, The Art Works will attract and inspire local visitors and communities right through to specialist researchers in Scotland and from across the world.
Several projects with local partners are underway, with completed projects including a collaboration with local charities and social enterprises to make 1000 art-themed face coverings for local people and visits for nursery groups to enjoy the community orchard which is currently on part of the site.
Previously known as the National Collection Facility, proposals for a building of this kind have been in the early stages of concept development since 2015. Now known as The Art Works, the project aims to bring Scotland’s vast and extraordinary national art collection into a single, future-proofed location.
The national collection is currently stored across several sites where access and space are extremely limited, logistics are difficult, and conditions are suboptimal for enabling the full potential for public access, conservation and research to be realised. It also means it can be challenging for works to be made available for display and loan.
The Art Works will be instrumental in addressing these issues, enabling much greater access to and engagement with Scotland’s incredible collection of art treasures. The facility safeguards the future of this publicly owned, renowned national collection.
Sir John Leighton, Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘We are delighted to have received planning permission for The Art Works. We are committed to continuing work with the Council and other strategic partners to play our part in shaping and informing the development of north Edinburgh.
“Our project has the potential to be a huge catalyst for change in the local community and at national levels. The Art Works will allow National Galleries of Scotland to share its collection much more effectively across the nation and to bring the benefits of art and culture to the widest possible audience.’
Further information can be found at www.nationalgalleries.org/theartworks
The renaissance of Leith Walk in Edinburgh is set to continue with the official launch of Drum Property Group’s ‘Red Sandstone’ building – now home to a range of exciting range of new shops, cafes and businesses.
City of Edinburgh Council Leader, Cammy Day, formally opened the distinctive two-storey Scottish Art Deco building following a major refurbishment project. Known simply as The Red Sandstone, the building extends from 106 to 154 Leith Walk and provides a range of open-plan first floor business suites housed above a row of shops, cafes, restaurants and a popular bar and arts venue.
The opening of the building is set to capitalise on the renewed interest in Leith Walk following the launch of the new tramline connecting Edinburgh city centre with the port of Leith and Newhaven.
All 10 of the street-level retail units have now been fully let, with more than two-thirds of the first-floor office suites occupied by a range of small to medium sized independent businesses.
The building’s tenants include Hobz Bakery, Cornelius Wines, Middle Eastern street food restaurant Sharawama, vintage clothing store Rhinestone Cowboys, Chorrito Sauce Company, pizzeria San Ciro’s and Zoomo, the E-bike sales and hire service.
They join Leith Depot, an established bar, restaurant and music venue which has been based at the location since 2015 and has now signed a new lease expanding the venue and extending its stay at the retail parade.
The Red Sandstone now forms a spectacular gateway to Drum’s £50 million transformation of the 2.9-acre Stead’s Place site, which will bring 148 new homes to the rear of the development linking Leith Walk to Pilrig Park when complete next year.
Welcoming the opening of The Red Sandstone, Council Leader Cammy Day said: “With the tram service up and running, the regeneration of this section of Leith Walk couldn’t come at a better time.
“Drum was able to work closely with the community to revise their plans while creating this scheme and the result is a thriving and creative space. The existing occupiers and new units are clearly receiving lots of footfall already, which is great to see.”
Fife Hyland, Drum’s Operation Director added: “After a long period of community consultation and refurbishment, it’s testament to the revival of Leith Walk that the Red Sandstone building is now fully operational and buzzing with activity.
“With the tram now open and Leith Walk coming back to its bustling best, the building is set to fulfil its potential as a distinctive focal point and destination for the area.
“We have been hugely encouraged with the high levels of occupier interest in the retail units, which are now all fully let, and in the office spaces above – of which we only have a few remaining suites available.
The vibrant retail parade has a diverse range of independent traders including shops, cafés, restaurants and the ever-popular Leith Depot bar and arts venue, whilst the sympathetically restored office suites have proved very popular as a small business location in the diverse and dynamic community of Leith.
The refurbished Red Sandstone building is now well set to play a key role in promoting the rich tradition of diversity and independence which makes Leith such an exciting destination in which to live, work and visit.”
Edinburgh businessman Aytac Gul has opened Middle Eastern street food restaurant Sharawama at The Red Sandstone, as well as operating the café space providing the entry point for the first-floor office suites. A
s the operator of some seven restaurants and cafes in the Leith area over the last 12 years, Aytac has witnessed many changes to the local neighbourhood.
“Leith Walk has undergone a radical transformation in the last decade,” he says. “It is now one of the most contemporary yet diverse streets in Edinburgh. It’s a genuinely cosmopolitan community which brings together a hugely diverse range of independent retailers, cafes and bars and is especially appealing to the younger generation looking for something a little different to the rest of the city, often providing better value and a more eclectic mix of attractions.
“The new tramline is now bringing more visitors and footfall to the area, especially when there are more shops, cafes, businesses and homes being created here, attracting more people from the city centre to venture further down Leith Walk.”
The last remaining office suites on the first floor of the Red Sandstone building are available for immediate occupancy.
For more information on The Red Sandstone and its office suites, visit www.theredsandstone.com or contact office agents Culverwell on 0131 243 9617.
People living in and interested in the future of the west of Edinburgh can take part in THREE public consultations just launched.
The city council is asking residents as well as those working and visiting the area how they think it could grow sustainably for future communities to be better connected, cleaner, greener and fairer for all.
Over the next few months there will be an opportunity to comment on three separate but linked key proposal documents:
Available to view together, these proposals could substantially develop the experience of living and moving around communities in the west of Edinburgh, helping the Capital to shape future planning policy and become a net zero city.
Towards West Edinburgh 2050 proposes how we could develop the area over the next 30 years. At this stage there are no detailed proposals but instead an overarching vision to be used as a starting point for discussion.
This has been informed by the city’s current City Plan 2030 (used to guide physical development and planning applications) and City Mobility Plan (for transport infrastructure) and, as the document develops, it will be used to evolve these plans over time.
The West Edinburgh Placemaking Framework and Strategic Masterplan is a consultation on development to the north of Gogarburn, extending from Eastfield Road in the west to Maybury junction in the east, with Edinburgh Airport and Turnhouse Road to the north.
There are a range of new opportunities for housing in this area as set out in City Plan 2030. The aim is to create a new 20 minute neighbourhood with a range of facilities which people will need to live well locally such as schools and medical centres.
Feedback on this document will be used to finalise a masterplan for this area which will go to the Planning Committee later this year for approval. The masterplan will then guide future planning applications.
Travel connections for those living, working and visiting west Edinburgh need to be improved, and to support future growth the Capital’s local authority is working with West Lothian Council to look at public transport and active travel links in the area along the A8/A89 between Broxburn to Maybury.
Known as Broxburn to Maybury Transport Improvements this is a major transport improvement project. The project is funded through the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
The plan is to have better connected communities with major employment, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities easily accessible. This will also make it easier for more people to make more journeys by bus or by cycling, walking or wheeling.
Council Leader Cammy Day said: “The west of the city is an area of strategic importance locally, regionally and within Scotland and beyond.
“It has three waterways, major rail and tram routes running through it and is home to the city’s busy airport which has more than 11m passengers passing through it every year. Leisure plays a big part in the community too.
“Every year the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston hosts many prestigious international and national concerts, conferences, and other events. There are also several major educational establishments serving students locally and from all over the world. This all makes it a popular place to live, work and study and we need to take action to respond to the opportunities and challenges this presents.
“We’re looking to create a new neighbourhood to the north of Gogarburn and so we’ve produced a proposed masterplan with a range of new opportunities for much needed affordable housing.
“We’re also using 20 minute neighbourhood principles as in the rest of the city to make sure future residents live well locally with schools, healthcare and leisure facilities nearby. Like other neighbourhoods in west Edinburgh this new community needs to be well connected to the rest of the city, the wider region and beyond through improved public transport links.
“It’s an exciting time for the west of Edinburgh and I’d encourage you all to give us your views, whether that is online or at one of the drop in events we’ll be promoting in the coming months.”
To take part in these consultations, visit www.edinburgh.gov.uk/westedinburgh2050.
Proposals to deliver a residential-led development at Straiton North in Midlothian have been announced.
Located on the opposite side of Straiton Road from the retail park, proposals by Straiton Estates Ltd will see the delivery of a mix of uses as part of a new 20-minute neighbourhood if consented.
In addition to new much-needed homes, these uses include the opportunity for employment, commercial and community facilities, as well as other amenities required for a 20-minute neighbourhood.
In the target to deliver net-zero, 20-minute neighbourhoods are a key driver in this. These are places that are designed so residents can meet their day-to-day needs locally through access to safe walking and cycling routes, or by public transport, reducing the reliability on car use.
It is anticipated that the proposed A701 relief road will form the northern boundary of the proposed built development.
The land has been allocated for development for over five years and is a key site in Midlothian Council’s current Local Development Plan (LDP) strategy where a mix of uses, including residential and commercial, are supported as part of a new ‘Gateway’ to Midlothian.
In addition to new homes will be a mixed-use neighbourhood centre, including potential land for a new health centre. Open space and play areas will be located within easy walking distance of all new homes, with attractive pedestrian green links between open spaces and the homes.
Safe and attractive routes to existing schools and facilities within Loanhead and Straiton will also be established, with a biodiverse wetland area north of the relief road, linking to a wider green network across the site.
Included within the proposals will be a 2.4-hectare employment zone located within easy reach of transport network and active travel routes.
The proposal for the site at Straiton North offers a unique opportunity to support the Council’s aspirations to develop Straiton into a people-centred place though creating a new 20-minute neighbourhood integrated into its existing context and forming a new mixed-use gateway to Midlothian.
Development will also serve to deliver significant economic benefits, bringing new sustainable jobs through the construction period and beyond, as well as investment into the existing local economy.
With a proposal of application notice (PAN) now submitted to the Council, formally notifying it of its intent to submit a planning application following a minimum period of 12-weeks of consultation, two community consultation events will be held. The first of these will take place on Tuesday 27th June between 4pm and 7.30pm at Loanhead Leisure Centre.
Commenting on the proposals, Colin Mclachlan, Director of Straiton Estates Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be bringing forward these exciting proposals for a new 20-minute neighbourhood that will deliver a mix of residential, commercial and community uses.
“Our scheme offers a unique opportunity to support the Council’s aspirations to develop Straiton into a people-centred place though creating a new 20-minute neighbourhood, successfully integrated into the area and forming a new mixed-use gateway to Midlothian.
“We look forward to engaging with the community on our proposals for the site and to respond to feedback received.”
