Sir David Murray's firm seeks to build on Edinburgh greenbelt

The 'garden district' is to the west of Edinburgh

The property company controlled by Sir David Murray has urged Edinburgh councillors to release greenbelt land for development.

Murray Estates said planning controls need to be relaxed in order to allow for population and housing growth.

It has been lobbying members of the city council to back its application for a new 600-acre "garden district".

The garden district is to the west of Edinburgh, between the business park at the Gyle and Heriot-Watt University.

It would have 3,500 new homes, a large park and garden visitor attraction, and a sports and leisure hub.

Jestyn Davies, managing director of Murray Estates, said: "Edinburgh has chosen growth, and over the next 20 years Edinburgh will have many tough decisions to make.

"I do not envy the dilemma faced by councillors and the Scottish government, however everybody now accepts that the debate is about which parts of the greenbelt should accommodate new housing, not whether the greenbelt should be designated for housing.

"I strongly believe that west Edinburgh is the best location to help Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland meet its housing requirements, utilising the transport routes already in place and providing a sustainable development that will further enhance Edinburgh as one of the best places in the world to live and work."