The Scottish Government

Redevelopment in Sighthill and South Gyle employment areas to provide modern business space in association with effective mitigation of transport and environmental impact.

Further intensification and implementation of existing planning permissions subject to effective mitigation of adverse transport and environmental impacts.

Redevelopment of Gyle Shopping Centre consistent with the Development Plan and in association with enhanced accessibility by public transport and a wider range of supporting leisure and community facilities.

Further intensification and implementation of existing planning permissions subject to effective mitigation of adverse transport and environmental impact.

Development in the Structure Plan core development area (i.e. Newbridge/Kirkliston/ Ratho) by regeneration and more intensive redevelopment of previously developed land for employment and allocation of new land for up to 1000 houses.

Airport growth beyond 2013 will require to take place on part of the land currently owned by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland ( RHASS). By 2020, 34 hectares will be required by the Airport, and a further 51 hectares by 2030. This is preventing ongoing investment in the Royal Highland Centre's current site and requires them to relocate by 2013. A site on the opposite side of the A8 has been proven through a feasibility study to be able to accommodate a "National Showground" and provide scope for the relocation, modernisation, expansion, and enhanced economic impact of the facilities and activities currently located in the Royal Highland Centre and managed by the RHASS. The extent and configuration of development will be guided by a master plan, supported by a business plan, discussed with the Scottish Executive, City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian. On the basis of such a master plan the RHASS could submit a planning application to City of Edinburgh Council. Land required for permanent development will be removed from the Green Belt through an alteration to the Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan (2006) or through its successor local development plan, but other land that may only be required for overflow car parking for peak events and other temporary uses will remain as Green Belt. Strategic landscape improvements will be required as part of the relocation exercise to enhance the setting of the site.
The land currently in the ownership of the RHASS and not identified for Airport expansion is largely brown field, retains good public transport accessibility enabling a significant modal shift in favour of public transport, and, if not required by the RHASS, will form part of the International Business Gateway.

This comprises a strategic reserve of land for international business development which is defined throughout this document to refer to development for corporate global, European or UK headquarters of enterprises operating in more than one country and with 25% or more of their output outside their country of origin, where the choice of location is between West Edinburgh and places outwith Scotland. The development will be expected to be high quality, high value, campus style, single user and with a legal agreement that the development will pertain to that user for at least 10 years. The area will be removed from the Green Belt through an alteration to the Rural West Edinburgh Local Plan (2006) or through its successor local development plan. Support will be given to land preparation, including advance planting, landscaping and infrastructure works. Development will be guided by a master plan agreed between the landowners and the Scottish Executive, City of Edinburgh Council and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian. The master plan will cover matters including layout, access, urban design, landscaping, and protection of heritage features. The Scottish Ministers are minded to make a Direction requiring any proposal in the master plan area previous to agreement of, or which is not in accordance with the master plan and which the City of Edinburgh Council resolve to approve to be referred to them. Approval of any proposals will be subject to legal agreements covering the matters set out in the definition above.

The Eastfield Road corridor excluding the extended Ingliston Park and Ride site is identified for high quality Airport-related hotel development subject to the provision of alternative and improved Airport road access, identified demand for hotel rooms, satisfactory mitigation of traffic impact and environmental enhancements to the road corridor befitting of a quality gateway to Scotland and Edinburgh. Development will be guided by a master plan for the area as set out above, and the Direction will also apply. Identified demand will relate to bed spaces to cater for those persons making a short stop at the Airport (for example prior to early morning flights or after late evening arrivals), or who are wanting to use the facilities immediately adjacent to the Airport. However, once tram and rail links are operational, further hotel development at the Airport will be considered in the context of encouraging visitors to seek accommodation within the City of Edinburgh, both for overnight stays and for business meetings, in order to support the leisure and tourism economy of the Edinburgh area.

Safeguarding for, and implementation of, a scheme of improvement components to alleviate flood risk and improve water quality, including the possibility of a burn diversion east of Edinburgh Airport. This facilitates expansion of the Airport, construction of EARL and development of the International Business Gateway.

In the light of the technical difficulties and cost of creating an adequate junction on the M8, the intrusive environmental effects of a link from the M8 to the Airport, the severance effect it would have for the land south of the A8 and the very limited benefits it brings to relieving congestion on the West Edinburgh road network, Scottish Ministers are minded not to proceed further with the concept of a road link from the Airport to the M8. Traffic to and from the Airport will access the Motorway and Trunk Road network at Hermiston Gait or Newbridge via new links to the A8 at Gogar and Ratho.

Construction of two new road accesses to the north of the A8 to serve the Airport and additional development sites, and new accesses to the site proposed for Scotland's National Showground, all as identified on the Vision Map.

The introduction of light and heavy rail links in accordance with the proposals considered and endorsed by Parliament, and their integration via an Airport Transport Interchange. The routes shown on the Vision Map are the current most likely but the Acts of Parliament will allow for variation within limits of deviation.