Brownfield sites ‘must be used first’

Brownfield sites must be developed before consideration is given to allowing housing on Edinburgh’s green belt, according to a Leith councillor.

Councillor Gordon Munro wants to see areas such as Leith and Granton getting developed before green belt land in the west of the city is handed over for housing.

In the city council’s draft local development plan, which it is currently consulting on, it makes west Edinburgh the preferred option for meeting the requirement for 2000 new homes.

But in his formal response, Cllr Munro said: “There is a need to develop brownfield sites already identified, such as Leith and Granton, before considering any incursions on the green belt.

“Development here would also add substantially to the transport problems of the city.”

He added: “Leith, Granton and Craigmillar need to be developed first.”