Edinburgh to build 9 new schools

Schools and roads are set for an investment boost of almost £300 million to ensure the Capital can cope with plans for around 14,400 new homes over the next ten years.As many as nine schools – including a replacement for Castlebrae Community High – could be built across the city, with major sums also set to be ploughed into roundabouts, footpaths and streets.The improvements would support the delivery of the proposed local development plan (LDP), which will see more than 9200 flats and houses erected throughout the city.It is predicted a further 5200 homes will be built at “unprogrammed” or “windfall” locations – such as former industrial sites – which become available unexpectedly.An additional junction on the A8, close to the Royal Highland Centre, a flyover at Sherrifhall, new cycle links in the south of the city and further improvements to bus stops, are all among key developments which could be taken forward.Fresh analysis has revealed that the total cost of improvements required to support the planned scale of housing development is around £296m.If funded entirely through borrowing, the investment would leave the city facing annual loan charges of around £12.5m.However, council bosses have indicated a significant proportion of the estimated construction cost could be covered by leveraging in contributions from developers.They have also suggested a proposed £1 billion “city deal” – which includes the three Lothian authorities, as well as the Scottish Borders and Fife – could help fund some services required for residents living in new developments.However, it has emerged that schools and other buildings defined as “social infrastructure” would not be financed through a successful bid for city region cash.Council chiefs said the plan had been put together in response to the city’s rapid growth.Projections published last year showed Edinburgh’s population would shoot up by more than 28 per cent from the 2012 figure of 482,640 to 618,978 in 2037.