PLANS for a neighbourhood on Leith’s waterfront, including 580 homes and public landscaped spaces, have been submitted to City of Edinburgh Council.
The new application is designed to support aspirations for sustainable communities and 20-minute neighbourhoods that will sit alongside a re-modelled Ocean Terminal.
The detailed planning application marks phase two of the £250m transformation of Ocean Terminal by its Scottish owners, Ambassador Group, and follows the approval of its phase one plans to partially demolish and reconfigure the 20-year-old shopping centre.
First opened in 2001, Ocean Terminal currently occupies three floors of leisure, hospitality and retail units. This includes Vue Cinema, H&M, Boots, Nando’s and Pizza Express, employing more than 625 people.
The plan reconfigures the centre to have a smaller carbon footprint and will be a key stop on the new Newhaven tramline.
The application is designed to align with the Council’s 2030 City Plan and includes a variety of build-to-rent and private homes for sale around a large central green space.
The proposals also put forward the potential for a Mobility Hub as part of the new neighbourhood which comprises car club services, bus, tram, cycling, electric vehicle charging and E-cycle, along with other low-carbon travel.
Chris Richardson, director of Ambassador Investments, said the team had prioritised how the development fits with the wider setting of Leith, whilst meeting policy aspirations of sustainability.
Richardson said: “The submission marks the culmination of a 16-month consultation process with the City of Edinburgh Council and key project stakeholders, with the aim to create a unique amenity, leisure, health and retail destination with an inherent sense of community.
"The plans are a hugely exciting step forward and have the potential to turn Ocean Terminal into a £250m GDV asset for the city.”
He added: “These proposals, in conjunction with the existing centre works, will support the retention of over 600 jobs and create new roles within the centre and expanding local area, while offering a series of engaging amenity, health and leisure options for people from all over the capital and further afield.”
