A £200m, 15-year plan to build a new community development on the outskirts of Edinburgh has been unveiled by the Scottish government.
To be called Shawfair, the project was first mooted almost two decades ago. Since then it’s been shelved, revived and reworked several times. The latest master plan includes 4,000 new homes — 700 of which will be “affordable”— as well as an estimated one million square feet of commercial space.
Effectively a new town, its inhabitants will be served by two primary schools for up to 800 pupils and a secondary school for around 1,200 students. There will also be rail links to the reopened Borders line.
Announcing the scheme, the country’s deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon (pictured) said the development would be led by a purpose-formed company, Shawfair LLP. It has already estimated the project will not be completed until 2029 and generate at least 1,000 construction jobs. Once finished Shawfair will provide work for at least four times that figure.
Construction of the joint venture between Mactaggart & Mickel housebuilders and property developers, Buccleuch Property, is due to get under way later this year.
“Our vision is to build a new self-sufficient community supported by a vibrant town centre with public amenities such as schools and a healthcare centre, transforming the area,” explained Andrew Mickel, of Shawfair LLP. “We look forward to working closely with local councillors and the community to deliver a modern town suited to the needs of the people of Edinburgh and Midlothian.”
Originally, the 350-acre Shawfair scheme was meant to be a joint venture between both Midlothian and Edinburgh councils and the Miller Group as lead developer. In 2009 the construction and asset management company exercised a “get out” clause and withdrew from the project.
Two years later, and with the scheme in limbo, Edinburgh and Midlothian councils offloaded their stakes in the development to a consortium of developers for an up-front payment of £6m and future profit shares estimated to be worth up to £20m for each of the authorities within the 15-year development phase.
“The Scottish government is committed to doing all it can to support infrastructure investment and this venture will boost local employment, create jobs, support skills development and strengthen Scotland’s infrastructure,” said Nicola Sturgeon. It is estimated Shawfair will pump at least £32.2m into the local and national economy during construction and almost £100m when completed.
Although it is within the boundary of the city by-pass the new community development will technically not be a suburb of Edinburgh. It is being built on the site of the former Monktonhall Colliery, in the south-east wedge of the Scottish capital, and close to the 25,000sq metre Shawfair Park business complex.
The original development included the Minewater Project, an experimental scheme to provide geothermal energy to the entire 350-acre site. The venture was abandoned as uneconomic, but there are rumours that with technical advancements Shawfair LLP is exploring similar energy solutions.
