PARABOLA has been given the go-ahead by the City of Edinburgh Council’s development management sub-committee for a new masterplan for the southern phase of its Edinburgh Park development.
Edinburgh Park is located two miles east of Edinburgh International Airport and six miles west of Edinburgh city centre.
The detailed planning permission includes: 43,000 sqm of commercial space including a commercial hub and public square at Edinburgh Park railway station; 1,737 new homes – predominantly apartments – in a combination of affordable, private residential and build-to-rent; a 170-bedroom apartment hotel; an emphasis on sustainable transport with low levels of car parking; and a large public park, play areas and gardens.
Tony Horton, MD of Parabola, said, “We are delighted at the approval of this planning application. It is a testament to the diligence and hard work of our professional team who have worked cooperatively and collaboratively with the city council. Edinburgh Park is a new sustainable, zero carbon urban quarter, an exemplar in place-making which will not only become an exciting place to live and work, but also a cultural destination and creative campus for the city.”
Montagu Evans advised Parabola on the plans. Andrew Munnis, partner at Montagu Evans, added, “This decision is an important milestone. It will bring a new sense of place to Edinburgh Park, introducing a wider mix of uses into the area and helping to establish a new urban quarter in line with the broader aims of the City of Edinburgh Local Development Plan. This application is one of the largest detailed masterplans ever considered by the City of Edinburgh Council as planning authority. By submitting this level of detail so early in the development process and focussing from the outset on high quality design and architecture, we have been able to provide certainty around how the development will be brought forward and the enormously positive impact that will create.”
Architecture and Design Scotland commented that the masterplan should be supported as a Level 1 Exemplar, due to the aspirations of the applicant and design team.