Neil launches game-changing £1bn construction project

The £1 billion development, in Winchburgh near Broxburn, will eventually cover 900 acres and include a mix of businesses, shopping and community facilities as part of a “new town”.

Mr Neil is scheduled to officially launch the project this afternoon, and will also meet with representatives from West Lothian Council, developers Sigma Capital and Realm Construction.

The development, which it is hoped will eventually see a new railway station on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line built, could be finished within 15 years.

John Hamilton, development director at Sigma, has said the building project is the biggest in West Lothian in four decades and will provide a huge economic boost to the area.

It could see the population of Winchburgh rocket from 2000 to 12,000 people. The first phase, which includes the construction of 177 new two-storey family homes, is expected to provide 300 jobs annually.

Eventually, five new schools, a motorway junction and a park could be built as part of a £100 million-plus investment in “community gain” projects.

Sigma has already handed over £1m to Winchburgh and Holy Family primary schools, which share a campus, to  fund the schools’ expansion to cope with the increased demand.