Go-ahead for £207m tram line extension

Construction work to run Edinburgh’s tram line to Newhaven will start before the end of this year after the £207.3 million extension was approved.

Leith Walk will be reduced to one lane of traffic for up to 18 months to complete the works.

The 2.8-mile extension is due to open in the first quarter of 2023.

Edinburgh’s tram line will be extended to Newhaven after councillors approved work starting on the £207.3 million project.

The city council voted 36 to 26 yesterday in favour of completing the original line from York Place to Newhaven.

The result came despite fears over the costs and a decision being made before the findings of an inquiry into the problem-hit first phase have been reported.

Construction work will start by the end of the year and will include Leith Walk being reduced to one lane of traffic for up to 18 months.

The 2.8-mile extension will open to an estimated 16 million passengers in the first quarter of 2023.

Council transport and environment convener Lesley Macinnes said Edinburgh faced a choice to “develop or die as a city”.

She said: “This positive decision to expand the tram network is crucial to the future of Edinburgh. It will allow strategic development of north-east Edinburgh, it will add to the sustainable transport options open to the people of this city and will be of benefit to Edinburgh long after the councillors who voted on it are no longer here.”

The tram will be funded by borrowing, paid back by future tram ticket sales. Bosses expect passenger numbers to double to around 16 million once the extension is open.

The project is also reliant on a £20m dividend from Lothian Buses.

Two opposition parties refused to back the plans.

The Conservatives pointed to the soaring costs, with the budget increasing by 25 per cent from £165m in 2017 to £207.3m. The Tories claim the project will not result in good value for money and that funding from Lothian Buses could be spent on other core services.

Tory transport spokesperson Nick Cook said: “The Conservative message on the tram extension is clear: Edinburgh Council should invest in building schools, not in a £93m per mile tram extension.

“Unfortunately, SNP, Labour and Green councillors have opted to vote to extend the tram and, in doing so, have backed a costly business case filled with unknown financial risk to taxpayers. It offers terrible value for money.”

The Liberal Democrats also voted against the proposals, despite supporting the principle of extending the line to Newhaven. Developers have welcomed the decision.