Edinburgh throws out plans for 500 homes

The City of Edinburgh Council’s planning committee has decided not to allow the development of 500 homes, retail spaces, active travel routes and open space in the western part on the city. The scheme was brought forward by West Craigs and Wheatley Homes East, which had a vision to turn a 58.8-acre site, of which 40.5% comprises open space and woodland, into a new neighbourhood. The developers had proposed to keep 23.8 acres of the total site area as open space through the planting of around 1,800 new trees and the creation of a 7.4-acre public park on the site, as well as two smaller parks of 1.2 acres. Despite this, planning officers said the proposals are not consistent with green belt objectives stated in the local development plan and recommended that the planning committee refuse the application. The councillors have supported this recommendation. Tim Jones, a councillor at the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “We still have an emergency in our city in terms of housing, and I hope we are not going to give up building, but not necessarily on the green belt.” Another application expected to be decided by the committee was lodged by Barratt and David Wilson Homes, proposing to deliver 400 homes on a 47.7-acre site located to the south of Frogston Road East. The proposals were also recommended for refusal on the same grounds but were withdrawn prior to the committee meeting. Image: Frogston Road East © EMA Architecture + Design