SIR David Murray’s plans to create a new £1 billion village on greenbelt land at the edge of Edinburgh have been given the go-ahead despite objections from planners.
The controversial blueprint for the so-called Garden District would see 1,350 homes built in the first phase of the development sited beyong the City Bypass in west Edinburgh.
Developer Murray Estates – owned by former Rangers chairman Sir David Murray – previously said the ambitious scheme would create a “world class extension to the nation’s capital”.
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Under the plans, at least 3500 homes could be built - a move that would significantly help to reconcile the capital's housing crisis with more than ten per cent of the 30,000 homes required over the next decade.
The plans were given the green light by Edinburgh councillors against the advice of the city's planning department which recommended rejecting the proposals which breached several environmental policies.
Conditions attached to the decision to drive through the plans included more detailed analysis on flood prevention, traffic and public transport.
The development will also see the creation of a new school, community hub and shopping centre, sports facilities and green space.
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There was only one objection from Green councillor Steve Burgess but the decision will be ratified - or potentially rejected - at a full Edinburgh Council meeting. It may also be subject to scrutiny by the Scottish Government because of its scale.
Planning convener Ian Perry said: “If we agree this then we need to look at the conditions to this report and go through them one by one.”
Conditions included tree protection reports and provisions for pedestrian, car and public transport access.
SNP councillor Alex Lunn said: “It will open up considerable green space. I think we have to welcome it.”
Another condition is ending production at an adjacent poultry farm.
A planning report said that "there is an effective housing land supply - this means that the land is not required for housing" and because of this "the proposal contravenes policies on Green Belt and Special Landscape Areas as well as the overarching policies in respect of housing land supply as there is no requirement to release the land for housing".
It added: "The proposal is not supported by the adopted Altered Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan in that it contravenes policies on Green Belt and Prime Agricultural Land."
Labour councillor Eric Milligan said the time was right to make the decision as the site had been under consideration for many years.
The council has previously said that the plans have merit but the planning report that was considered on Monday afternoon firmly recommended the application be rejected.
Murray Estates claims the site will open up green space equivalent to double the size of Princes Street Gardens.
Sir David Murray's firm previously clashed with planners and even made a formal complaint to the council about the planning report resulting in several amendments.
They have now created a version of the report including their own comments on its key points - lambasting planners for taking a one-sided view of the proposals.
Their comments in the report state: "This committee report has replaced a previous report issued by the council, as a result of a complaint by Murray Estates regarding inaccuracies in the previous report."
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