The masterplan for council-owned land at Meadowbank was approved yesterday (7th October) by members of the development management sub-committee. About 600 energy-efficient homes - a minimum of 35% of which will be affordable - are detailed in the planning application. The plans had been submitted in February.
Following the decision, the circa 拢100m project is expected to become the first development of its size in Edinburgh to promote the council鈥檚 goal of net-zero carbon by 2030 by creating a low-car, low-carbon community and energy-efficient new homes. The plan has been shaped in response to views shared by local residents, who were keen to see more green space, places for play and better-connected walking and cycle routes brought to the area.
The mixed-use development will also create jobs by regenerating a five-hectare area next to the new Meadowbank Sports Centre, which is due to open next year.
Space for a new GP surgery and community and commercial uses, the protection of existing trees and planting of saplings plus new rain gardens also feature in landscaping designs, which aim to pay tribute to the area鈥檚 sporting and industrial heritage.
The masterplan has already been awarded Building with Nature accreditation from Nature Scot and the Scottish Government. In addition, the council has undertaken studies on the option for 鈥榞reen roofs鈥�. The designs have also been endorsed by Sustrans鈥� Places for Everyone scheme.
Councillor Neil Gardiner, planning convener, said: 鈥淎s a planning authority, we need make sure we protect our city鈥檚 beautiful and historic built environment, while supporting our communities to become sustainable for twenty-first-century living. We also need to adapt our city to meet the needs of a growing population, address the increasing impact of climate change and ensure growth is responsible. These designs for Meadowbank meet these needs with plans for a truly low-carbon, low-car, energy efficient neighbourhood, featuring new affordable homes. This is a really important site for the city and I鈥檇 like to thank everyone who took time to participate in the consultation process.
鈥淭he masterplan includes homes to meet different needs, including for families. One third of the houses will be affordable, making a welcome contribution to the needs of the heroes who keep our city running every day. This masterplan, which has broad community support, offers a gold standard for new developments across the city for both the public and private sectors.鈥�
Councillor Maureen Child, vice planning convener, said: 鈥淥ur aspirations for place-making through our new City Plan, which we are currently drafting, are about making sure our communities continue to be great places where people want to live and visit, so feedback from the local community has been key to shaping committee鈥檚 decision making on Meadowbank. I鈥檓 pleased that an open conversation has been had and that we鈥檝e been able to agree these ambitious plans, which offer a mix of community benefits and improved facilities. It will see the community evolve into a more connected and climate conscious community, in line with our net-zero-carbon targets.鈥�
Keir Bloomer, the project鈥檚 independent Sounding Board chair, said: 鈥淭he current proposals have emerged through an intensive exercise in community engagement. In addition to a number of public information sessions and consultation meetings, a Meadowbank Sounding Board was established almost two years ago. This group contains representatives of a wide range of local community groups and organisations, including those who were opposed to the original proposals for the site. Local councillors and others with relevant committee responsibilities are also members but they are in a minority. Considerable efforts have been made to ensure that the sounding board is able to express its views, regardless of whether these are favourable to the council鈥檚 perspective or not. I was asked to chair the group as somebody who is completely independent.
鈥淭he sounding board met quite frequently until restrictions during the pandemic made this impossible. Designs for the site have been altered on a number of occasions in response to its views. As a result, the current plans are greener and more open. Housing density has been reduced and designs improved. It is intended that the sounding board will continue in existence through the development phase, acting as a strong voice for local people.鈥�
Cathy Houston, project architect at Collective Architecture, said: 鈥淲e are grateful for the time taken by members of the community to engage in the Meadowbank design processes.聽 This is such an important site in Edinburgh鈥檚 City Centre and so it is wonderful to be at this stage with a multifaceted proposal which seeks to enrich the neighbourhood on many levels: ecologically, environmentally, socially and with a huge amount of care.聽 The process undertaken with the community has ensured that the development sensitively integrates new housing, local amenities, greenspace and restored public routes east to west.鈥�
Brenda Devlin, a local community councillor, said: 鈥淯sing the expertise of Collective Architecture and the City of Edinburgh Council, local consultations, focus groups, workshops and public meetings were organised. It became obvious that the participants that attended these events were being listened to and their suggestions and ideas taken on board. The plans now being presented are a result of these consultation sessions and mostly reflect the vision of local residents, groups, organisations and businesses.
鈥淭he creation of a Sounding Board provided another opportunity for further targeted local input and a place for checks and balances to be carried out on the final plans. This eco-friendly development with a mixture of housing types, quality green spaces and community facilities makes this a very exciting development and will be an asset to our area.鈥�
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