Plans for £2bn neighbourhood West Town with 7,000 homes unveiled in Edinburgh

Plans have been submitted for a £2bn development with 7,000 homes, described as “one of the most significant expansions of Edinburgh in a generation”.

If approved, West Town would span 205 acres between Ingliston Park and Ride and the Gogar Roundabout.

Alongside thousands of homes, developers Drum Property Group, which owns the land in west Edinburgh, unveiled ambitious plans to transform the area into a 20-minute neighbourhood, with proposed facilities including schools, medical provision, civic and community space as well as bars, restaurants, cafes, retail and other commercial spaces.

There are also plans for 27 acres of accessible green space – including a large 5.5-acre central park, several “pocket” parks and a wildlife corridor, criss-crossed by a network of cycle, running and walking tracks.

Graeme Bone, Drum’s Group managing director, 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.

“This planning application is a significant milestone in realising the ambition we share with the council both for the local area and for the city, further strengthening the long-term collaborative process that is set to deliver a major transformation of the west of Edinburgh.

“The amount of space on the site combined with its superb location allows for a natural extension for the city providing 7,000 mixed-tenure homes and new jobs in a new 20-minute neighbourhood. West Town has direct access to some of the best public transport in Scotland – the tram line travels through the site and there are integrated rail, cycle and road connections, creating a strategic gateway to Edinburgh.”

Developers hope that work will start on site before the end of 2024, with the first phase of homes and community amenity being ready for occupation from early 2026.

The West Town planning application has been submitted following a 12-month local consultation programme which included two online and one public consultation events.