Relocation, relocation, relocation for rugby at Meadowbank

Part of the site would be sold off to a supermarket operator to help pay for a new home for Edinburgh Rugby, who currently play at Murrayfield, if a deal is agreed with the city council.

An un-named developer is believed to have offered to rebuild the existing main stand at Meadowbank on condition that it is allowed to sell off other facilities on the site.

Officials at the local authority last night confirmed that “preliminary discussions” were under way with club officials and the Scottish Rugby Union, which runs the team. However, the plans are likely to be controversial because they are likely to threaten the future of other facilities at the site, which include a cycling velodrome and several sports pitches.

A senior council source said: “Any proposal is likely to need the council to agree to sell off part of the site to help finance a redevelopment of the sports facilities there. The issues with Meadowbank haven’t gone away over the last few years; if anything they’ve got worse. A joint initiative with Edinburgh Rugby might provide a way forward.”

News of the talks comes eight years after plans were first unveiled to sell off the entire Meadowbank site for housing to help pay for a new stadium in the Sighthill area of Edinburgh.

Despite the proposal winning £7 million from the then Scottish Executive, the plans were shelved due to a public outcry and a high-profile campaign.

Four years ago, new plans to replace the existing stadium with a scaled-back arena, to be funded by the sell-off of a third of the Meadowbank site, were approved. However, the £25m project – supposed to be finished in time for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – has failed to get off the ground due to the collapse in the property market.

The latest proposals have emerged months after Heart of Midlothian FC revealed it had held talks with the council about the possibility of a shared community stadium.

Edinburgh Rugby, which played at Meadowbank before relocating to Murrayfield several years ago, has admitted it is “exploring options” for a permanent new home, as its fans regularly complain about a lack of atmosphere at its games in the 67,000-capacity Murrayfield.

A spokesman for Edinburgh Rugby said: “We are looking at a range of options for the future of the club at the moment but nothing is confirmed in terms of a new stadium.”

A spokeswoman for the council said: “We can confirm preliminary discussions are under way but are not in a position to comment further.”

Green councillor Alison Johnston, a former Scotland international runner, said: “The council has managed to avoid closing Meadowbank by putting in a small amount of investment into the facilities to keep them going, but this is unsustainable.

“However, I’d be very concerned about any secret deals that are being done in the background without any consultation with the local community.