Housing

Hatton Village will be an entirely new community. To help achieve this goal a variety of housing types and tenures will be proposed to create a wide diversity of residents.  This will include starter and family homes for sale and market rent, retirement/later living properties, social and mid-market rent properties and potentially self build opportunities and will meet Edinburgh's policy aspiration for 35% affordable housing on site (delivered via a Registered Social Landlord partner).

Through a variety of housing types, Hatton Village will establish the foundations of a unique and vibrant community.

Materials and designs of new housing at Hatton Village will be developed as the project progresses but will require to meet all the latest design and energy efficiency standards and will contribute to creating an environment that is distinct and welcoming.

Ambitious new housing targets have been set at both national and local level for Edinburgh over the next decade or so.  The city needs more homes, both for sale and rent, to support economic growth and ensure existing and future residents do not face a housing availability crisis.

Building a new village will help tackle this problem in a sustainable way, make the best use of Edinburgh's land, whilst minimising impact on existing suburbs currently under pressure from housing growth.

Transport

An integrated approach to transport and accessibility will form a key aspect of Hatton Village.

As illustrated on the plan above, a range of facilities, services and connections are accessible within accessible public transport and active travel options from Hatton Village, including primary and secondary schools, university and sports centre, major business, retail and industrial parks, international airport, rail stations, tram stations, park and ride facility, canal-side cyclepath and local centres.

Potential options to connect the village to the surrounding area in a sustainable way are being investigated and assessed. 

Utilising the adjacent A71 bus corridor between Edinburgh and Livingston with an enhanced bus service would provide a direct link to key transport nodes, employment and education centres.  Extension of existing Ratho and Riccarton bus services could also connect Hatton Village. 

Upgrading existing services requires a cost-effective approach and sufficient new users to justify the service by operators. Development would assist with making local bus services viable in the A71 corridor between Edinburgh and Livingston.

Education

The existing non-denominational catchment schools for Hatton Village are Dean Park Primary in Balerno and Balerno High School.

City of Edinburgh Council’s latest school roll and capacity projections (2025) indicate that both of these schools will face continued capacity pressure in the period to 2035.

An assessment of education options indicates potential for forecast spare capacity to be accommodated within Ratho Primary in the short term along with a new primary school or shared Hatton Village/Ratho campus to deliver long term primary education. Potential also exists to utilise spare capacity at Currie High School. Proposed options will be the subject of further discussions with City of Edinburgh Council as the proposal is progressed.

Landscape and Heritage

The Hatton Village site is not subject to specific landscape or historic environment restrictive policy designations. However, wider Green Belt objectives and adjoining areas (including Dalmahoy, Hatton House and the Ratho Hills Special Landscape Area) would need to be addressed in design and development proposals. The above images illustrate the site in relation to Local Development Plan policies and surrounding landscape and historic environment designations. 

Indicative Design Framework

As a stand-alone development Hatton Village will be able to create its own identity in terms of place and character. It would remain separate from Edinburgh and surrounding towns while also providing much needed housing, accessible by public transport to employment and services.

The proposal will incorporate new infrastructure such including an upgraded junction on the A71, public transport connections / mobility hub, local village centre (local shops and services), community/education/cultural uses, care home and new greenspace. Indicative plans have been prepared showing a varied density to deliver a total of approximately 1,200 homes.

These amenities provide Hatton Village with its own identity as well as provide members of this new community with local and accessible services. 

The intention would be to create a higher density village hub focused on an upgraded Dalmahoy Road, linking to a new linear park with adjoining community uses. Housing density would be decreased from the centre with the lowest density in the northern part of the site.

The indicative design framework is shown above, which will be subject to further development as the site is promoted to the City of Edinburgh Council’s ‘City Plan 2040’ consultations.