Plans for cricket, tennis and football facility at Cramond

Edinburgh-based housing developer AMA’s plans could see a new home for Scotland’s national cricket team built in Cramond.

Also included are plans for a tennis academy based on a brief by former national coach for Scotland, Judy Murray.

Mike Afshar, joint managing director of AMA, said: “This would be a fantastic sports facility, not just for Edinburgh but for Scotland as a whole.”

A care village, community facilities and a physiotherapy injury clinic also feature in the new masterplan for the 33-acre site off Cramond Road South.

The developers have submitted three options to the city council’s planning department for consideration – combining cricket and tennis, cricket and football or football and tennis.

Depending on which options are granted permission, AMA aims to hold talks with a number of sporting operators interested in the site.

If approved, the plans – currently being considered in principle – would see AMA sign leases with tenants for a minimum of 25 years.

Mr Afshar added: “We have developed the plans and we have submitted three different options.

“Once we get planning approved in principle, then we will talk to all the interested parties and get them round the table as quickly as possible to decide how to proceed before finalising the designs.

“From our point of view all the options work, we just need to make sure we get planning approval in principle through first so we can get everything finalised. Obviously, we would like the planners to approve all three options.

“We did a survey earlier this year and 69 per cent of residents in the Cramond area who responded were behind the scheme.”

The cricket pitch would have seating for around 600 spectators, although additional temporary seating could be brought in for international matches.

The purpose-built facility would mean that the national team would no longer have to share facilities in Stockbridge with the Grange Cricket Club.

AMA bought the site in 2002 and has already built dozens of luxury homes. Part of the planning agreement involved developing sports facilities.

Andrew Mather, chairman of Cramond and Barton Community Council, said: “There’s two different views going around about the facility.

“The people who look out over the site would like the tennis pavilion repositioned as they think it will block their light and views.

“People elsewhere feel that it is a reasonable development. It’s our job to represent both of those views.”