Process

In September 2007, Forth Ports submitted its outline planning application for the regeneration of Leith Docks. The application, one of the largest ever submitted in Scotland, was approved by City of Edinburgh's planning committee in August 2008 and establishes the broad framework and principles for the phased development of the area that is expected to take up to 30 years to complete.

Forth Ports appointed RMJM to prepare the framework to guide the long-term development of the area. Views between the docks and the city and identification of important listed buildings and heritable areas were used as the basis for the natural division of the site into a series of nine urban villages or neighbourhoods. The development of the villages will be phased over time. Before the development of each village commences, it will be masterplanned in detail. The public will have an opportunity to participate in the design of each detailed masterplan, which will examine more fully the appropriate mix of uses for the area.

The masterplan for the first two villages at The Harbour, Leith Docks was submitted on 10th December 2008 and was created by international waterfront development experts RTKL. Inspired by international best practice, RTKL helped to transform the run-down docklands at Baltimore Inner Harbour in America which is now a successful and vibrant commercial, leisure and tourist area that attracts 15 million visits a year.

The Harbour, Leith Docks will provide the commercial, retail and leisure heart that will help drive a flourishing waterfront development in Scotland's capital city.