A new housing development that would see 110 homes built on green belt land on the outskirts of Edinburgh has been recommended for refusal by city planners despite developers pledging £600,000 towards apprenticeship schemes.
The decision has puzzled developers Sheraton especially as they had also confirmed that 30 of the new homes would be affordable housing for people living in the area and a further 25 would be bought by local landlords who would protect the houses with buy-to-let property insurance before renting to local couples who are struggling to find a home. The area of green belt land had been earmarked for a care home, but the plans collapsed and the new housing proposals were drawn up in its place. City planners vetoed the plans saying there is enough land already earmarked for development and that, at present, there is no need to use green belt land.
Sheraton has pledged £100,000 a year for six years to support apprenticeships through the Edinburgh Guarantee scheme, which finds paid internships for school leavers unable to find job or university course. Around 250 jobs would also be created during the construction of the new housing that would be a mix of one, two and three-bedroom flats and houses, including seven disabled access flats. Sheraton are arguing that while the land is an area of green belt, the principle of development has already been established when the plans for the care home were approved.
Terry Tweed, secretary of Craig Millar Community Council, said “There was already planning permission for the care home, so we don’t understand why it should be any different for homes. We have the ERI nearby and the bio quarter being developed and the people coming to work in these places need somewhere to live. We also dispute that it is proper green belt land. I’m all for defending green belt when it is something of value but this is substandard scrub of a low grade. We’ve had a promise from the Edinburgh Guarantee people that the money will be spending in Craig Millar, creating apprenticeships and employment opportunities and that’s needed in our area.”