Edinburgh's controversial 'garden district' wins approval again
May 1 2020
Murray Estates and EMA have obtained planning consent from the Scottish Government to press ahead with delivery of 1,350 homes and associated infrastructure in the first phase of a controversial 'garden district'.
Redheughs Village will ultimately contain a primary school, community centre and shops amidst 40 acres of parkland on the outskirts of the city.
David Murray, director of Murray Estates owner Murray Capital Group, said: “The country’s entire focus is, quite rightly, on tackling the immediate health and economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the health emergency subsides, the scale of the economic one will become clearer and attention turns to how we address that.
“Shovel-ready projects like the first phase of the Garden District development, which represents a £450 million investment in the Scottish economy, will be key to supporting the longer-term economic and societal recovery. The decision is perfectly timed in that regard."
“Shovel-ready projects like the first phase of the Garden District development, which represents a £450 million investment in the Scottish economy, will be key to supporting the longer-term economic and societal recovery. The decision is perfectly timed in that regard."
Mired in planning limbo since 2015 the project was initially recommended for refusal before this was overturned by councillors and referred to the Scottish Government.
8 Comments
#2 Posted by Daniel on 4 May 2020 at 09:07 AM
I have no real issue with development past the bypass or in this location.
But it's an absolute indictment of the failures of the Scottish planning system that you've got a development of this size that is next to both railway and tram infrastructure without that being incorporated in some form. We're facing a climate and air pollution crisis and Edinburgh is going to get an extensive new car-dependent suburb. How does that fly in face of these things?
But it's an absolute indictment of the failures of the Scottish planning system that you've got a development of this size that is next to both railway and tram infrastructure without that being incorporated in some form. We're facing a climate and air pollution crisis and Edinburgh is going to get an extensive new car-dependent suburb. How does that fly in face of these things?
#3 Posted by Damp Proof Membrane on 4 May 2020 at 09:39 AM
And of course, standard, poorly laid out noddy boxes for homes. OK, build there, but build this? Very sad to see. And as noted what integration is there to public transport. How are these folk meant to walk to the Gyle, for example, for the new station?
#4 Posted by Daniel on 4 May 2020 at 13:15 PM
#3 - I was up there about six years ago for a university project. Sadly it isn't visible on google as far as I can tell, but I remember there being a grotty tunnel under the bypass around the back of all the office buildings by the tram line. Sure to be well traversed by the office workers!
#5 Posted by David-58 on 5 May 2020 at 11:46 AM
Sheesh!!! Entirely agree with all of the above...
What kind of country do we live in when the experienced professionals who deemed to reject the scheme in 2015 are 'over-ruled' by councillors not trained or experienced in such matters. Same mob who made a cock up of the Tram project. And to make matters worse they have been vindicated by Scottish Government ministers approving detailed consent. SNP politics at work here. Rubbish architecture and where are the attractive gardens in the Garden District. Seems to me that David Murray is desperate for financial gain at the expense of a decent end product. Poor poor poor.
What kind of country do we live in when the experienced professionals who deemed to reject the scheme in 2015 are 'over-ruled' by councillors not trained or experienced in such matters. Same mob who made a cock up of the Tram project. And to make matters worse they have been vindicated by Scottish Government ministers approving detailed consent. SNP politics at work here. Rubbish architecture and where are the attractive gardens in the Garden District. Seems to me that David Murray is desperate for financial gain at the expense of a decent end product. Poor poor poor.
#6 Posted by David-58 on 5 May 2020 at 11:51 AM
And another thing. Where is the detailed design?
EMA couldn't design a hole in the ground.
Oh wait - they just have. Makes us fellow professionals proud to be in the industry.
EMA couldn't design a hole in the ground.
Oh wait - they just have. Makes us fellow professionals proud to be in the industry.
#7 Posted by Daniel on 6 May 2020 at 13:24 PM
#6 - this is an outline consent. If you check over on Andy Wightman MSP's twitter, the other day when this was announced he recounted a conversation with DM Estates, basically they're just operating as a land promoter - getting an outline consent and selling the site on to a developer who will secure a full consent.
#8 Posted by David-58 on 6 May 2020 at 14:12 PM
#7 - thanks for pointing out my error.
Hopefully a more than capable set of designers will take this on to the next level. Good luck.
Hopefully a more than capable set of designers will take this on to the next level. Good luck.
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BTW Do we still have a green belt policy in Scotland?