3,000 homes set for old Edinburgh Airport runway

A new 3,000-home development in west Edinburgh has been recommended for approval by officials at the city council.

If approved, the new community would be constructed on a 29-hectare brownfield site which used to be a runway for Edinburgh Airport, as part of a £1bn development for the city.

The development proposed by Crosswind Developments would include a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom homes, as well as office space, shops, a school, active travel routes and a green urban park.

The final decision will be made on 18 December by councillors on the City of Edinburgh Council's development management sub-committee.

Proposals for the development, named Elements Edinburgh, were lodged in February just a few months after the local authority became the first city council in Scotland to declare a "housing emergency".

According to Crosswind Development's plans, more than 1,000 of the proposed properties would be affordable housing to reduce housing pressure in the city.

The proposed site is located near the residential areas of Cammo, East Craigs and South Gyle, less than 300m away from Edinburgh Gateway station, which serves train and tram lines.

Developers hope to create a "car-lite" neighbourhood with about 9km (five miles) of designated walking and cycling routes to "reflect the increased opportunities for those who live and work here".

The development will also feature open space and leisure facilities for play, recreation and sport, including a 4.5-hectare urban park.

Forty-six percent of the site will be dedicated to green space, the developers said.

Plans suggest this area will connect to wider green and blue networks to reduce flooding and help more plants and wildlife to grow.

It is understood homes will be powered completely by renewable energy with the aim to reduce household carbon dioxide emissions to zero.

These comes after sustainability became a key goal for with city, with Edinburgh's council committed to reducing emissions to net zero by 2030.

David Kelman, project director at Crosswind Developments, said: "We are pleased to be moving forward with this transformative project, which aligns closely with Edinburgh's City Plan 2030.

"Our vision is to create a sustainable, inclusive community that enhances west Edinburgh and benefits future generations.

"We are hopeful that the subcommittee will support our proposals, and we look forward to working collaboratively with the council to advance our shared ambition for the city."