The City of Edinburgh Council has given outline planning permission for a development framework for Leith Docks, the largest planning application in Edinburgh's history. The framework, designed by RMJM for Forth Ports, will regenerate the area as part of the city's long term vision to transform Edinburgh's waterfront into a vibrant sustainable community and an internationally renowned leisure destination.
The framework outlines the development of nine new interconnected sustainable waterfront villages on 144 hectares of brownfield land, an area larger than Edinburgh's Georgian New Town. The main features of the framework include plans to create up to 15,200 new homes (including up to 3,800 affordable homes), 35 hectares of new open and civic space, public walkways and almost 3km of coastal boardwalk will become accessible for public use.
This approval establishes a foundation for an ongoing process that will shape the future form of Leith Docks. View corridors define nine new waterfront villages, which will be masterplanned individually or in pairs by a range of masterplanners and architects over a 30 year period. The view corridors offer views to key landmarks in the city centre, including Edinburgh Castle, Calton Hill and Arthur's Seat, creating the structure for the framework and linking the waterfront to the city centre.
View the Leith Docks development framework
The scheme has seen its share of protest, with a group called JUMP (Joined Up Master Planning) launching a campaign to publicise a rival scheme last year.
Below: visualisation of the ‘view corridors’ that divide the Leith Docks development frameworkinto nine waterfront villages and, underneath, theRMJM masterplan
Nathan Ward, Associate Urban Designer of RMJM said: 'The Leith Docks outline planning application has been developed in close consultation with local residents, community groups, businesses and the City of Edinburgh Council since 2003 and we're delighted that outline planning permission has been granted. The framework outlines exciting regeneration plans that will provide homes and jobs for thousands of local people, including new parks, public spaces and areas for events and festivals and will transform Edinburgh into an international waterfront city over the next 30 years.
'We've worked with the City of Edinburgh Council to create a very unique and collaborative strategy which has allowed us to create a simple and flexible framework. This process began in 2004 with the creation of supplementary planning guidance. The adoption of this outline planning application by the City of Edinburgh Council establishes the creation of 9 individual villages and provides continued opportunities for input from local communities and stakeholders as future integrated masterplans for the villages come forward.
'The framework also incorporates an extensive network of footpaths, cycle routes and a main terminus for Edinburgh's new public tram system, which will connect the waterfront to the city centre. The area will also appeal to visitors as an exciting travel and leisure destination in its own right, adding a waterfront city experience to compliment the popular historic attractions of Edinburgh's Old and New Towns.'
Council demands on Forth Ports are reported as follows:
- £29m contribution to new tram network
- min. 30% family housing with 3 or more bedrooms
- new secondary school for 1000 pupils
- 3 new primary schools for more than 1300 pupils + new classrooms at existing Catholic schools
- new swimming pool, sports hall, pitches & skatepark
- £34m for transport improvements
Timeline
- 2003 Dialogue CEC-Forth Ports
- 2004 LDDF SPG (stage 1) consultation
- LDDF SPG (stage 2) consultation
- LDDF SPG (Draft) consultation
- 2005 LDDF SPG Approval
- Preparation of OPA commenced
- 2006 Public Participation
- 2007 OPA for Leith Docks submitted
- 2008 First masterplan
- 2010+ Further masterplans
Key numbers
- 15,900 new homes, including 3,975 affordable homes
- 11,600 direct jobs for Edinburgh
- 10,100 direct construction jobs across the 30 year development period
- Reuse of 144 hectares of previously used or ‘brownfield’ land
- Creation of 35 hectares of new open spaces, public walkways and civic spaces
- Development of over 100,000 square metres of new office floor space, able to
- accommodate anything from small businesses up to a major headquarters
- development.
- £194 million per annum GVA growth for the Edinburgh economy
- £248 million per annum GVA growth for the Scottish economy
- Up to £28 million additional council tax revenue and a further £28 million additional business tax revenue
- 2.7km of coastline opened up for public use.
The JUMP alternative masterplan
