Edinburgh greenbelt development approved by Scottish Government

Dalkeith Road - Image credit: Sandy Gemmill via Wikimedia Commons

The Scottish Government has given the green light to a proposed local development plan by The City of Edinburgh Council.

The second local development plan was passed by councillors in May last year, but campaigners have been fighting proposals to build on a number of greenbelt sites.

Planning reporters appointed by the Scottish Government considered unresolved representations from individuals and organisations that were seeking changes to the development plan.

While, the reporter has made amendments to the detail of many of the proposals, particularly regarding infrastructure requirements, but has not recommended cancelling any of them.

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Among the recommendations in the 886-page report are the plan should not be changed to include further land release at a strategic level, all housing sites in the proposed plan should be retained and that the plan should be reviewed to make sure a continuing five-year housing supply is achievable. 

According to the report a minimum of 25,128 new homes are needed in the city by 2026, with an estimated shortfall of 408 under the existing plan.

The report proposes another 742 homes at five additional sites across the city, all of which already have planning permission following appeals to the Scottish Government by developers.

The report also notes: “Developer contributions must be proportionate and attributable to the impacts of the development. They also have to be realistic in light of current economic circumstances otherwise they may impede development.”

Councillor Ian Perry, convener of the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning committee said: "One of the key issues for Edinburgh is a shortage of housing and I am pleased that, while there is short term pressure on supply, the report states that overall there is sufficient land to deliver the housing the city needs.

"The council will work closely with landowners and developers to identify ways in which building programmes can be accelerated to address this short term issue.”

Perry said the recommendations in the report would be discussed at the council’s planning committee on 5 September with a view to adopting the plan by the end of the year.