15,000-capacity indoor arena planned for site near airport

A new blueprint for West Edinburgh will safeguard land for a multi-million pound complex which would aim to compete with the SECC in Glasgow.

The council is said to be working with a major property owner in the area on plans for an arena with a capacity up to 15,000, which would be served by the proposed new transport hub at Gogar.

The site is part of an international business district being pursued by Edinburgh-based developer New Ingliston Limited, which owns some 240 acres of land between the airport's existing site and the Royal Bank of Scotland's Gogarburn headquarters.

But the proposed new arena would be in direct competition with facilities run by the organisers of the Royal Highland Show.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society for Scotland, which has a 10,000 capacity complex, is also pursuing an additional 6,000-capacity venue.

The council said the plans were at a "very early stage".

But one source was quoted saying: "Although it would take several years to get this off the ground at Ingliston, it's a very realistic proposition when you look at what else is happening in the area."