Plans have been submitted for a community-led housing project in Edinburgh

Plans have been submitted for a community-led sustainable housing project in Meadowbank, Edinburgh. 

The planning process began in June 2018 and has involved various collaborative projects with people from the local community, including 15 workshops and 680 consultation responses.

The independently chaired Meadowbank Sounding board, which has met six-times has also come together with community representatives and council officers to discuss the plans and ensure that they are in line with the needs of the community.

The plans have been designed to protect the rare Wheatley Elms trees in the area, the development also incorporates a number of green parks and play areas, a rain garden and plans to plant more trees.

The plans also include a low-car sustainable development, their aim is to prioritise active travel through a network of paths and roads.

There will be 600 modern, low-carbon, energy-efficient homes with a minimum of 35% of them being affordable. The plans also include a GP surgery and other community facilities.

The Masterplan will be considered by members of the Development Management Sub Committee later this summer.

Cllr Kate Campbell, housing homelessness and fair worker convener said: ‘A huge amount of work has gone into producing this Masterplan for Meadowbank.

‘We’ve been listening to the local community throughout the process and I’d like to thank everyone for helping to shape these designs.

‘I’m confident this plan reflects their priorities and needs.’

‘We’re proposing that over a third of the homes we build at Meadowbank will be affordable, with most of those for social rent.

‘To support our ambition to be a carbon-neutral city by 2030, we’re also going to create great public spaces for children to play and people to meet, walk and cycle through.

‘We’re prioritising people over cars and keeping parking to a minimum as well as building high-quality energy-efficient homes.’

Earlier this year, New Start travelled to York to meet James Newton, co-founder of the community land trust, YorSpace.

YorSpace is disrupting York’s housing market with 19 permanently affordable homes that could open later this year.

Photo Credit — Pixabay