Plans to transform Seafield in north-east Edinburgh into a new environmentally friendly coastline for the capital have been published by the council.

The area is currently primarily made up of car showrooms, trades, light industry, the Lothian Buses’ marine depot and the council’s Seafield Household Waste Recycling Centre. But a new masterplan has been drawn up to connect its coastline to the surrounding communities in Leith, Portobello and Craigentinny.

The draft ‘Seafield Place Brief’ and ‘Draft Seafield Masterplan’ have been produced to add details to the allocation in the council’s local development plan, City Plan 2030, as one of 44 pieces of land across Edinburgh allocated as an opportunity site for development.

Planning convenor, Councillor James Dalgleish, has described the plan as a ‘bold vision’ to transform the area and bring the community together with others on the waterfront in Edinburgh.

He said: “Our draft plan focuses on the creation of a new environmentally friendly neighbourhood at Seafield to help address the city’s housing emergency. Options for higher density flats, with the clear aim of 35% of homes on site being affordable, are being explored with stunning views across the Firth of Forth alongside excellent community facilities.

Read More: 

"We’re estimating the site could potentially deliver as many as 2,700 homes with a range of other styles of housing such as colonies and townhouses. We’ll also make sure there are opportunities for employment and community uses.

“Our bold vision to transform this area would open up the Seafield section of Edinburgh’s coastline creating an attractive and seamless promenade linking to the waterfront communities that already exist on either side. I’d like to thank the local people and businesses whose views have helped get us to this stage and I look forward to receiving further feedback from the upcoming consultation to help us finalise our plans.”

As part of the plans, a new primary school, GP surgery and plenty of green space are proposed for Seafield. A waterfront park, improved public transport, walking, cycling and wheeling routes linking to the wider area have also been included as part of the council’s views on how to transform the area.

The provision of a heat network to help the city with its net zero target is also planned and that would allow utility bills to be kept down for future residents.

It could be approved for consultation by the planning committee next week and residents, business and other organisations in the area will be asked to give their views on the ‘Draft Seafield Place Brief’ and ‘Draft Seafield Masterplan’, developed following extensive consultation with local people and businesses.

The area being considered stretches from Seafield Street in the north to King’s Road in the south, with the easter boundary being the Forth Estuary and the western boundary being defined by a railway line and by Seafield Recreation Area.

As Seafield is a coastal area, work is also ongoing with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to make sure any future flood risk is mitigated against.