Local developer Drum Property Group鈥檚 7,000-home scheme granted unanimous approval by council

Edinburgh council has unanimously approved outline plans by 7N Architects for a 7,000-home extension to the Scottish capital which is one of the city鈥檚 largest residential developments in decades.

The 拢2bn West Town masterplan is being developed by local property investor Drum Property Group, which is now putting together a series of detailed applications for each phase of the scheme.

It will be located on a 205-acre site between Ingliston Park and Ride and the Gogar Roundabout at the city鈥檚 western edge.

West Town CGI - Proposed Park lr

The 拢2bn development will include 7,000 homes

Around 2,500 of the scheme鈥檚 homes will be affordable, just over 35% of the total in what Drum says is one of the largest investments in Edinburgh鈥檚 social housing in recent years.

The scheme will also include a 630-place primary school, a 1,200-place high school, a 300-bed hotel, a 300-room student accommodation scheme and 450,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and office space.

A new tram stop linked to the city鈥檚 tram network will be built in the centre of the site, which will also include some 27 acres of green space including a 5.5 acre park, several smaller parks, a 鈥榳ildlife corridor鈥� and a network of cycling and walking routes.

Drum鈥檚 group managing director Graeme Bone said the project was a 鈥渙nce-in-a-generation opportunity to make West Town an exemplar, sustainable 20-minute neighbourhood on a par with the best new developments taking place anywhere across the UK and Europe鈥�.

He added: 鈥淭he amount of space on the site, combined with its superb location, allows for a natural extension of the city, providing 7,000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a well-designed 20-minute neighbourhood. 

鈥淲est Town also has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland 鈥� the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway for the west of Edinburgh.鈥�

Initial phases will be focused on the new tram stop, creating a town centre early in the development together with homes, a new school and commercial, community and amenity spaces.