The vision for Edinburgh's waterfront for the next two decades will be formally revealed tomorrow by Forth Ports, with the launch of the masterplan covering the first two urban villages at Leith Docks.

Following City of Edinburgh Council's approval in August for the Leith Docks outline planning application, the 26-hectare Edinburgh Harbour masterplan draws on the best examples of vibrant, flourishing waterfront cities around the world and provides a more detailed framework for long term regeneration.

Already anchored by Ocean Terminal, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Scottish Government offices, the masterplan for the surrounding brownfield site will create a commercial, leisure and retail hub for Edinburgh’s vital waterfront. Key features include: a new cruise liner terminal and visitor centre for The Royal Yacht Britannia, a waterside esplanade and two new piers creating an important public space for local people and visitors.

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Plans have been made for a new tram terminus and European plaza-style public transport interchange, provision for a landmark cultural venue such as an international concert hall and up to five new hotels providing Edinburgh with an extra 1,000 much-needed rooms.

New leisure, restaurant and retail space will be centred around Ocean Terminal, a new office district extending to up to 99,000 square metres, flexible enough to accommodate small offices and larger business facilities and 1,870 new homes, 25% of which will be affordable.

Edinburgh Harbour will deliver significant economic benefit for the city and Scotland as a whole, adding over £200m annually to the Scottish economy and creating an estimated 8,300 jobs on completion. In addition, there will be 2,500 new construction jobs created during the construction phase. Forth Ports will be seeking an international partner for the development.

Speaking in advance of this week’s submission, Forth Ports Group Chief Executive Charles Hammond said: "It is important to have a vision in difficult times. Edinburgh Harbour sits at the heart of the largest expansion of Edinburgh for 300 years. It will create a destination that anchors the waterfront development and delivers significant economic benefit to the Edinburgh and Scottish economies."

Ron Hewitt, Chief Executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce added: "This opportunity to launch our capital city into the premier league of European cities which capitalise on their natural environments also meets the city’s need for affordable housing, new business space and all the services needed to support these. Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce believes passionately in this proposal as a key building block in the development of Edinburgh's waterfront."

(GK/JM)