TAYLOR Wimpey East Scotland is to make community contributions of over £1.8 million as part of an agreement which has released detailed planning permission for the build of 132 new homes at West Mains.
The agreement with the City of Edinburgh Council will see the funds go towards education and transport, as part of the build on land situated off Hillwood Gardens, towards the eastern boundary of Ratho Station.
The 11.33-acre site is identified for housing in the adopted second Edinburgh local development plan.
With an ‘attractive’ frontage that will overlook Ratho Station Park, the Lauder Grove development will deliver a range of one and two bedroom apartments, as well as two, three, four and five-bedroom homes, the housebuilder revealed. There will also be a provision of 25% affordable one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two and three-bedroom homes within the site.
The development is said to embrace some key design principles which includes retaining existing woodland located on the fringe of the development where practicably possible including along Glasgow Road, and investment in Ratho Station Park aims to improve its landscaping to create a new focal area.
New footpaths and cycle routes will also look to enhance the overall appeal of the park and encourage more people to use it, while also ensuring the new community at Lauder Grove can connect with the surrounding existing local area and its amenities.
A secondary active travel access will be provided from Hillwood Rise for use by pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users, as well as allowing for emergency only access to the development.
Lauder Grove will also encourage the use of more green travel options, balancing a reduction in private car parking spaces with the provision of two city car club spaces.
Taylor Wimpey added that, as well as a choice of ‘stylish and high-quality’ family homes, the development will also provide a range of economic benefits for the local area that includes supporting around 40 jobs per year of construction and the attraction of new customers to local businesses.
Pauline Mills, land and planning director at Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, said, “Following our detailed discussions we are pleased to have now concluded our Section 75 legal agreement with the City of Edinburgh Council. This agreement will see us contribute around £1.8m towards education and transport. This in turn releases our detailed planning permission for our development of new homes at Lauder Grove in Ratho Station.
“Ultimately this will allow us to bring forward a development that offers buyers a great choice of new homes, and it also marks our commitment, investment and strong track record of delivering excellent quality developments of family homes across the local area. We are looking forward to setting our plans in motion to begin construction this year, and we will keep the local community informed of our next steps.”
