Major housing scheme plans spark backlash in south of city
Plans for a major housing development on Edinburgh’s southern edge have sparked a backlash among residents.
Barratt and David Wilson Homes (BDW) held a consultation event last week amid plans for new homes, retail and commercial space at a site on Frogston Road East near Mortonhall. It is the third time the developers have consulted on such proposals, with previous efforts to build houses on the site ditched in 2019 and 2020 after local outcry.
The firm behind the proposals says it will help to solve the city’s housing emergency by delivering a wide range of new homes. Bosses have also attempted to placate residents by offering to plant trees and install active travel infrastructure.
The housebuilder also said jobs could be created in the area as a result of the development as companies would be encouraged to set up shop in retail and commercial units. New residents would enjoy spectacular views of the Pentland Hills and benefit from electric vehicle charging ports and a bike hire scheme.
However, many residents insist the plans would put major pressure on alreadystretched services. Nearby Frogston Primary School is set to be expanded due to an increase in pupil numbers, while locals are said to be finding it difficult to access GPs and dentists.
There are also concerns about the impact on wildlife, with warnings rare species like Skylark, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer would be banished from the area. Traffic woes and a worsening of air quality are other big fears.
More than 500 people have signed a petition against the development. One nearby resident of six years, who asked not to be named, said: “In terms of things like GP appointments, dental appointments, primary school places, people are really struggling already to have access to these services.
“So the fear is that adding more people into the alreadyexhausted infrastructure is just going to cripple it. There just wasn’t an answer from the developers, they just said that it was the council’s responsibility and that’s not something they deal with.”
The local continued: “Edinburgh can meet its quota of housing without having to build on this field that’s not part of the designated land that is necessary to build the amount of houses that they want. That tells me that it’s an option driven by profit.”