Categories
News

Murray development: Johnstone criticises council vote

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, today urged Edinburgh city council to reject proposals for 1,320 homes on greenbelt land between the City Bypass and Gogar Station Road.

Councillors on the planning committee – except the Greens – yesterday signalled their approval of the proposal by Murray Estates, going against the officials’ recommended refusal. It will now go before the full council next month and then to the Scottish Government for final approval.

Alison Johnstone, Scottish Green MSP for Lothian, said:

“As the council’s own report made clear, there is plenty of land within Edinburgh that can be developed for housing. This scheme would unnecessarily chew up yet more of our precious greenbelt when we should be protecting it.

“I would urge the full council to see sense and overturn the planning committee’s decision, which smacks of desperation. The city council’s energies should be going into transforming existing brownfield sites that have good infrastructure connections and bringing empty properties back into use.”