Thousands of homes and jobs set for Midlothian after council adopt local plan

Published on Monday 5 January 2009 08:47

MORE than 11,000 houses and up to 10,000 new jobs may be created by 2020 as part of the Midlothian Local Plan adopted by the council last week.

The plan also earmarks 50 hectares of land for business and industrial development and 25 hectares for new biotechnology industries.

The 200-page document provides a development strategy to replace the two previous local plans in place since 2003.

It is the culmination of a four-year consultation, which included a 16-week public local inquiry.

In addition to the 2,200 houses earmarked for development by 2015, further sites which could be developed into nearly 9000 houses and another 50 hectares for job creation have also been identified.

Sites identified to meet housing and economic development needs to 2015 are the A7/A68/ Waverley line corridor, comprising Dalkeith, Mayfield, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Rosewell and Shawfair, and the A701 corridor, comprising Loanhead, Straiton, Bilston, Roslin, Penicuik, and Auchendinny.