MAJOR plans have been submitted for a new “20-minute neighbourhood” near Edinburgh.
West Town Edinburgh Limited, a development consortium owned by Drum Property Group, has unveiled ambitious proposals for more than 200-acres of land to the west of the Scottish capital.
The 205-acre West Town site, which sits between Ingliston Park and Ride and the Gogar Roundabout, is regarded as one of the most strategically important development areas in the UK.
Developers hope the £2 billion project will help solve Edinburgh’s housing crisis, with the plans set to become biggest single homes-led development in the city in modern times.
The area was identified by City of Edinburgh Council as having capacity for 7000 homes as well as the necessary employment, commercial, leisure and community facilities required for a “20-minute neighbourhood”.
Proposed facilities include schools, medical provision, civic and community space as well as bars, restaurants, cafes, retail and other commercial spaces.
There are plans for 27 acres of accessible green space – including a large 5.5-acre central park, several "pocket" parks and a "wildlife" corridor, criss-crossed by a network of cycle, running and walking tracks.
Graeme Bone, Drum’s Group managing director said the development would deliver major transformation to the city.
“We now have the opportunity to make West Town an exemplar, sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood on a par with the best new developments taking place across the UK and Europe,” he said.
“This planning application is a significant milestone in realising the ambition we share with the council both for the local area and for the city, further strengthening the long-term collaborative process that is set to deliver a major transformation of the west of Edinburgh.
“The amount of space on the site combined with its superb location allows for a natural extension for the city providing 7000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a new 20-minute neighbourhood.
“West Town has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland – the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway to Edinburgh.”
He added: “Drum has a proven track record of delivering high quality large-scale communities across Scotland and our ambition for the area matches that of the proposed Edinburgh City Plan 2030.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Council to advance our shared vision to create a new, sustainable urban quarter for the city.”
It is hoped work on the site will commence before the end of 2024, with the first homes ready for occupation by early 2026.
