Subject to planning consent, this prime site adjacent to Danderhall will take the number of new homes with consent or currently underway to over 1,000 across Shawfair.    

A new road, connecting the Wisp to Millerhill Road, will define the northern boundary, complemented by a new foot and cycle path to connect Danderhall, Shawfair and Woolmet Park, an open-water SuDS lake and substantial new woodland and meadow grassland.

Nick Waugh, director of Shawfair LLP, said: “We are delighted to welcome Stewart Milne Homes as the sixth housebuilder at Shawfair.  They have a deserved reputation for high quality, elegant homes and will be a welcome addition as we move a step closer to our planned 4,000 homes.

“Meanwhile, we are progressing plans for an attractive and sustainable town centre beside the existing railway station, with community and health facilities, schooling, nurseries, shops, homes and businesses – everything that a vibrant, thriving community needs to flourish.”

Gerry More, group managing director for Stewart Milne Homes, said: “Stewart Milne Homes is focused on creating developments with a strong sense of place, through appealing streetscapes and sympathetic designs, where residents can be proud to call home.

“Shawfair meets Stewart Milne Homes’ criteria that our communities should have good transport links and infrastructure to access both amenities and outdoor life. We are looking forward to creating neighbourhoods and building homes that will appeal to a wide range of buyers.”

Five housebuilders – Bellway, Dandara, Mactaggart & Mickel, Miller Homes and Places for People – are also building at Shawfair, with around 200 homes already completed.

The site at Danderhall is an allocated development site under the adopted Midlothian Local Development Plan and has outline consent for residential use.

In a related initiative, Midlothian Council is planning to create a local heating network for Shawfair town centre using energy produced by the nearby Millerhill Energy from Waste plant. It will aim to use this zero-carbon energy to offer cheaper heating to residents.