UPDATE -; THE LDP2 CONSULTATION HAS NOW CLOSED FOR REPRESENTATIONS.•

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The City Council has provided the following timeline for the remaining consideration of LDP2:

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• February 2015 -; Submit Second Proposed LDP to Scottish Ministers (examination starts one month later*)

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• September 2015* -; Report of Examination

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• February 2016* -; Adoption

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(*Timescales are determined by Scottish Government/Scottish Ministers)

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I promised to keep residents up to date with the Local Development Plan, and revised proposals•(LDP2) have now been published by the City of Edinburgh Council.

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The LDP sets out long-term proposals to guide development and housing across the city over the next three decades. The original plan (LDP1) included proposals to develop on several greenbelt sites in my constituency, including Broomhills, Burdiehouse, Gilmerton Station Road and the Drum.

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Between May and June 2013, over 2,000 residents made their representations to the Council and I shared the concerns expressed by many about the impact these potential developments would have on local amenities.

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However, at this time the Scottish Government made additional demands on the Council to find a further 3,000 more homes on top of the 4,200 already required. This was rightly seen as an unfair moving of the goalposts, and resulted in the Council coming forward with revised proposals.

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This is LDP2 and the proposals can be viewed onlinehere.•Consultation with residents will be open until 5pm on 3rd October 2014.

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Representations can be submitted in two ways:

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1. By email: localdevelopmentplan@edinburgh.gov.uk

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2. By post: Local Development Plan Team, City of Edinburgh Council, Business Centre G.3, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BG

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I would also•be very grateful if you could copy me into any representations by email: ian@ianmurraymp.co.uk

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It is important that Edinburgh has a coherent Local Development Plan which will shape our city in a measured way. The city cannot move forward with no plan whatsoever; indeed, that would put our green spaces at even greater risk as developers would simply be granted permission on appeal due to the lack of land allocated for housing.

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However,•I have been clear that there are other sites which should be developed, and that any housing on greenbelt should be resisted at all costs. I’m disappointed at the planning laws which have allowed the Scottish Government to dictate large numbers to the Council without any recognition of the impact on local amenities.

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This is our chance to once again express our views on this significant plan.