Maximum protection is to be given to areas of green belt land in Edinburgh, local Councillors have said.

The move comes as Councillors prepare to approve the next stage of the Edinburgh Local Development Plan (LDP) project.

A capital coalition motion is being considered by the Planning Committee which agrees to continue exploring the prioritisation of brownfield sites before releasing land in the Green Belt. A total of 74% of the homes within the Local Development Plan are expected to be built on brownfield sites.


The motion also asks officials to reassess a potential development site in the west of the city called 'East of Milburn Tower'. This would be contained within the West Edinburgh Strategic Development zone, and its inclusion in the Plan would give the committee more flexibility when considering future representations on the LDP.

Commenting on the plans, Councillor Ian Perry, Planning Convener, said: "In order to give us the best chance of preserving the city's green belt, the Capital Coalition will be proposing that none of the currently identified sites are removed at this stage of developing the Local Development Plan.

"Removing any of the current sites would mean the Council could not meet the housing target agreed by the Government, which could result in the Plan facing a legal challenge.

"Or worse, because we wouldn't have an effective land supply, it would seriously undermine the Committee's ability to prevent ad hoc development in the green belt as the Reporter would have no option but to grant applications on appeal."

(JP/CD)