One of the UK’s most historic cities will soon have a new neighbour as a new town is set to be built right next door.
Developers have put in a planning application for a 200-acre settlement consisting of 7,000 homes outside of Edinburgh. West Town has been labelled by those supporting it as the biggest homes-led development in Edinburgh in modern times.
The development includes shops, schools, and social and medical facilities. It would also see the creation of a park with access to nearly 10km of active travel routes, weaving through and around 500,000 square feet of commercial space.
The Edinburgh Tram route runs through the site, and a new tram stop would be created. It’s designed so that residents can live there without needing a car.
Developers said the site would also have 27 acres of parks and a network of cycle, running and walking tracks.
The plans were put forward by West Town Edinburgh Limited – formed in April 2021 by Drum Property Group, which owns the land.
Drum managing director Graeme Bone said: “We now have the opportunity to make West Town an exemplar, sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood on a par with the best new developments taking place across the UK and Europe.”
He added: “Drum has a proven track record of delivering high quality large-scale communities across Scotland and our ambition for the area matches that of the proposed Edinburgh City Plan 2030. We look forward to continuing to work with the council to advance our shared vision to create a new, sustainable urban quarter for the city.”
He added they hope to have the first phase of homes and community amenities ready for occupation in early 2026.
“The West Town planning application has been submitted following a successful 12-month local consultation programme which included two online and one public consultation events, resulting in more than 2000 visits to the West Town website,” he added.
John Watson, chief executive of Crosswind Developments, said: “We’ve been working closely with the council’s planning officials for some time now to unlock this strategically important site in the west of the city and have invested £8m in this project since 2017.
“Elements Edinburgh will offer homes and commercial space, designed to provide the perfect blend of life, work, learning, and nature for all.”
The project team includes JM Architects, Mott MacDonald as geotechnical and transport consultant, WSP as ecology, noise and vibration, and archaeology consultant, and Synergie Environ as energy and sustainability consultant.
