August 22 2008

Planners have recommended councillors in Edinburgh give the go ahead to plans by Forth ports and RMJM to provide 15,000 new homes at Leith Docks, one quarter classed as affordable.

The biggest planning application ever to come before the council will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of pounds of investment to transform Edinburgh’s waterfront over the next 20-30 years.

Approval comes not without caveats however, with the developer being obliged to fund a contribution of £29 million to the city’s tram network.  The council will also stipulate that 30% of new housing provide three or more bedrooms and have insisted that a new Scondary School, three primaries, a swimming pool and recreation grounds be built.

John Lewis have again lodged an objection citing a retail drag on the city centre.  This follows an earlier objection to Glasgow Fort’s expansion plans.

It is proposed to create nine “urban villages”, the first of which on an area around Ocean Terminal dubbed “The Hub”, will include a cultural quarter and business uses with plans set to be published next year.  Much open space will be provided around Mulberry Park, Leith Links and Leith Sands.

Buildings will be predominantly eight stories in height but there are plans for a tower element which could be up to 28 floors high.

Alan Robertson, managing director of the property group Jones Lang LaSalle Scotland, said: "There is an opportunity to replicate the outstanding regeneration efforts which have transformed the likes of Canary Wharf and Greenwich in London and reinforce Edinburgh's reputation as one of the top cities in Europe to live and work.

"I urge the council to approve this outline planning application."

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