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Learn about our plans for an exciting new community in Edinburgh
We are working closely with local residents, The City of Edinburgh Council and other key stakeholders to develop plans for an exciting new community in Gilmerton, Edinburgh on the fringes of the Drum Estate. Our proposals are for around 150 new homes which will appeal to a wide range of potential buyers with a choice of 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses, 25% of which will be affordable homes, in Gilmerton, Edinburgh. All of our news homes will be energy efficient and highly insulated, with solar PV fitted as standard and a number of electric vehicle charging points fitted throughout the development.
Our proposals include our new areas of open space, cycle paths and connections the Drum wood. We take biodiversity seriously, so our landscaping proposals will include bee-friendly plants, bee-bricks, new tree planting and landscaping that promotes healthy bee, bird and insect populations.
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Development managed by Taylor Wimpey East Scotland.
About the development
The Masterplan
Along with our development partner, BL Chesser Ltd, we control a 6.69 hectare area of land on the south east fringe of Edinburgh known as Highfield, Gilmerton. The site is adjacent to the historical Drum Estate and it forms a green open space between Old Dalkeith Road (A7) and Ferniehill Road (B701).
Our proposed development will offer a choice of 2, 3,4 and 5 bedroom houses, with 25% affordable homes, as part of the overall design. Our plans will include areas of high-quality landscaping, green open space and there are plans to include play areas for children to meet and socialise which are being considered as part of our designs. New cycleways and upgraded pedestrian footpaths will also provide convenient links to the growing local community and create a healthy and sustainable way to live.
Street scenes
The appearance of the new homes will be reflective of the local area and we’ll use locally sourced materials to ensure the development is in keeping with existing houses nearby.
To create a characterful community, the proposed development will be designed to create a sense of place and maximises the latest Scottish Government Planning Policy for Designing Streets. These designs give priority to pedestrians over vehicles through the use of shared surfaces and home zones to create natural areas of focus at key points of the development.
Homes proposed
Our proposals include 150 new houses with a mix of 2, 3,4 and 5 bedroom to suit a range of lifestyles, 25% will be affordable homes.
All houses will be two storey with a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced designs to appeal to a range of homebuyers.
About our proposals features
Connectivity
We understand that a new development may have an impact on the existing community, so we have carefully considered this as we have developed our proposals to ensure we integrate well and reduce the potential for any inconvenience during the construction phase.
Cycling and walking will be encouraged with a network of footpaths and cycleways which will provide easy access to the nearby areas of Edinburgh including Gilmerton. Existing transport links, including the Edinburgh City Bypass are nearby and existing local bus services will service the development.
Drainage
We have prepared a flood risk assessment and surface water drainage strategy to ensure that an appropriate drainage strategy is put in place.
To reduce the impact of the proposed development on the existing drainage network we propose the addition of a sustainable urban drainage system. This will be designed to manage the flow of surface water.
Ecology
Preserving and enhancing local wildlife is a key consideration when we plan and build new developments. We have carried out a number of ecological surveys to identify any ecological constraints on the site.
Our plans include significant opportunities to enhance the site for local wildlife and measures to enhance biodiversity. These include new bat and bird boxes, a sensitive lighting scheme to respect nocturnal wildlife and the creation of diverse natural habitats for birds.
Our approach features
Economic benefits
We want to deliver new homes and facilities that positively integrate with and enhance the local community.
As part of our ongoing discussions with The City of Edinburgh Council, we will agree a level of community contributions reflective of a development of this scale.
Open space
Ensuring our residents and the local community have access to beautiful green open spaces is a key consideration.
Our plans for Highfield include plans for several play areas for children which will encourage the local community to meet friends and socialise. We will also create high-quality landscaping and establish pockets of green space for the enjoyment of everyone living at the development.
Community benefits features
We believe it’s our responsibility to support our communities, so that people are proud to call them home. That’s why we regularly donate time and money to local causes, and are passionate about investing in the areas we build.
Date |
Activity |
| October 2024 | Abby Kelman, interim Land & Planning Director for Taylor Wimpey East Scotland comments: “We are very disappointed with The Reporter’s decision to dismiss our appeal in respect of our application for a development of new homes at Highfield in Gilmerton. We believe that our proposed development would positively integrate and enhance the local community and provide much needed new homes in light of the Council’s declared Housing Emergency, We will take the opportunity to review the comments and feedback from The Reporter before considering our next steps.” |
| May 2023 | We can confirm that we lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government in respect of Edinburgh City Council’s Planning failure to determine our application for Planning Permission in Principle for our proposed Highfield development in Gilmerton, Edinburgh. Our appeal has been called-in by Scottish Ministers and this means there will be an extended time to allow a determination. We remain hopeful that our development of around 150 new homes, can be granted Planning Permission in Principle consent in due course. |
| December 2021 | We have submitted an application for Planning Permission in Principle to The City of Edinburgh Council. Our proposals are still outline at this stage and we will provide further updates as our application progresses with the Local Authority. |
| February 2021 | We completed a review of all consultation comments, views and feedback to allow the design proposals for the development to be finalised |
| 18th January 2021 | We hosted an online public consultation event |
| October 2019 | A Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) was submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council |
Sustainability Sustainability We’re committed to building greener, healthier homes for us all. From energy efficient fixtures and fittings, to cutting our carbon emissions, and enhancing existing green spaces, we build sustainability into everything we do. Find out more about Taylor Wimpey's sustainability strategy.
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