Leith Docks regeneration approved

Edinburgh City Council has awarded outline planning permission for the UK£ 700 million (€ 862 million) regeneration of the city's Leith Docks.

The mixed-use project is part of a 30-year vision to transform the city's waterfront into a sustainable community and leisure destination.

The framework, designed by architects RMJM in collaboration with developers Forth Port, will now be referred to the Scottish Government for consideration.

Forth Port and design company RTKL, will now produce a detailed masterplan for the heart of the scheme, which includes two of nine interconnected waterfront villages featured in the approved plans.

The villages, which will ultimately provide 15200 new homes as well as 35 ha of new open spaces, parks, civic spaces and public pathways, will be built on 144 ha of brownfield land.

There will also be a 3 km-long coastal boardwalk, communal areas, retail, leisure and community facilities.

In a statement Forth Port said it now plans to use the approval as a platform to explore public and private financing options, including a submission to the Scottish Government for a joint initiative for infrastructure funding.