Do you prefer to live in the city or by the sea? Do you like to hear the sound of waves crashing in as you fall asleep or wake up to the hubbub of the early commuter rush?
If you said ‘how could I ever choose? It depends!’ then we have some great news for you. 7N Architects has revealed its ‘masterplan’ for Seafield in the northeast of Edinburgh, which could see 2,700 brand-new homes constructed to turn the area into ‘a residential-led and mixed-use neighbourhood’ by the sea. Basically, it’s going to be a pretty lovely place to live.
What’s better is that this isn’t just any new town. It’s a climate conscious new town, which is prioritising sustainability in every way from creating public transport options to building the houses in a way which protects them against climate change. The designers have come up with a ‘climate change resilience strategy’, which specifically addresses rising sea levels and how they might affect those living by the water in the not-too-distant future.
Plans began to be drawn up back in 2023, when locals were asked what they’d want to see from the project. They told the council to prioritise green spaces, facilities which ‘allow people to actively use the water’, and better public transport, so 7N has incorporated all of that into its proposal. Here’s a couple of renders of the plans.
We’re now just past the second part of the public consultation, which included an in-person meeting at Portobello Town Hall, and onto the third and final stage before the masterplan is adopted by the council. A bunch of boring bureaucracy has to happen after that, before any work can actually begin. Basically, it could be a while, so don’t start putting the wheels in motion to move your entire family just yet.
Although it could be some time before anything is actioned, there’s still lots to get excited about. As well as loads of new homes you can expect a makeover to the main promenade and strengthened connections to Leith, Portobello, and of course the city centre. The future is bright, Seafield. We can’t wait to see what becomes of you.
Relaxing by the sea with Time Out
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