Plans for 700 homes to be built between Forth bridges near South Queensferry to be handed over

A company will bring forward plans to build 700 homes on farmland between two of the Forth bridges next year.

The proposed site for 700 homes between the Queensferry Crossing and Forth Road Bridge, Picture: CALA

Developers will hand over detail plans to build 700 new homes on farmland near South Queensferry next year.

CALA Management will bring forward its detailed proposals for the scheme to be built between the approach to the Forth Road Bridge and Queensferry Crossing after purchasing two thirds of a 90-acre site. The overall scheme has already secured a minded to grant planning permission in principle, subject to a legal agreement being established, for a total of 980 new homes to be built. A new primary school and 4,000m2 of commercial space are also earmarked for the site.

The company will submit a detailed masterplan and planning application next year following further investigatory works and consultation with the local community – with a long-term view to start work on site in 2021.

Craig Lynes, land director with CALA Homes (East), said: “This location is already earmarked as a major contributing site to help ease the housing shortfall throughout the market in and around Edinburgh.

“We understand that duty – and want to ensure we bring a new community forward in a responsible way working with stakeholders including people living nearby.

“Part of this will include an additional community event, likely to be in spring next year, where we can present our masterplan proposal and vision for the site first hand and take on board suggestions.”

The Builyeon Road development on the western edge of South Queensferry, will include 25 per cent of the 700 homes made available as affordable housing. Around four acres will be earmarked for a variety of retail, leisure, and roadside related uses.

The BP Ineos gas and oil pipeline passes through the southern part of the overall development site.

Community council leaders have welcomed the consultation proposals – and are confident the developers can help improve existing infrastructure in South Queensferry. Keith Giblett, chairman of the Queensferry and District Community Council, which objected to the outline application for the wider site, welcomed the opportunity to review the plans and discuss potential wider benefits.

He said: “Queensferry and District Community Council has a solid working relationship with CALA Homes delivering the homes on the Dalmeny Park site and looks forward to discussing and revising the masterplan that was proposed with the present planning application.

“Working with CALA Homes we hope to secure improvements to the town’s infrastructure.”

If planning permission is approved by Edinburgh City Council, CALA claims upgrades to local buses and cycle and pedestrian infrastructure could be funded by developer contributions – likely to exceed more than £16m. This could include contributions to education and healthcare infrastructure.

Edinburgh Airport raised “no aerodrome safeguarding objection” to the wider outline planning application – based on a host of conditions being met.