Plans for £1bn expansion of West Lothian village outlined

Outline plans to build more than 3000 new homes in what could be the biggest village development in the UK have been unveiled.

The £1bn development plan for Winchburgh, in West Lothian, would see up to five schools built as well as retail and leisure facilities and a new town centre.

The local council has signed a Section 75 planning agreement, which secures the 870-acre site for future development.

Detailed plans will now be submitted for the first stage of the project, a development of 177 homes, and if they are approved work could begin in August.

Steve Field, West Lothian Council's head of planning and economic development, said: "The signing of the Section 75 agreement marks an important step in the development of Winchburgh and the surrounding communities.

"This is one of the country's most prestigious and important developments and it will both enhance and improve the local community."

Winchburgh Community Council says it feels it has been excluded from the decisions so far and has raised safety concerns about the site.

Vice-chairman Raymond McCabe said "We feel that the council have left us high and dry since we weren't involved in the consultations.

"We have concerns over houses being built beside the landfill at Auld Cathie before anything is done to clean up that area. We are especially worried about a possible increase in cancer cases among people living near landfill sites."

The overall plan would see 3450 homes built together with two secondary schools, two or three primaries, a rail link, a new motorway junction, public parks and a marina.

It could swell the population of the village from 2000 to around 10,000.

Sigma Capital Group plc, which is project managing the masterplan, has secured contracts on behalf of Regenco Trading Ltd with Barratt Homes and Miller Homes to build the first phase of the development.

Graham Barnet, CEO of Sigma, said: "The granting of planning permission in principle by West Lothian Council for the Winchburgh development masterplan unlocks the development of this substantial site.

"We are delighted to have reached this landmark and will be supporting the next stage, which involves the early delivery of 177 new homes."

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