View source for Western Harbour, Edinburgh

{{Short description|Suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
[[File:Edinburgh Leith Newhaven Harbour (8160867011).jpg|thumb|right|264x264px|Leith Newhaven Harbour]]
'''Western Harbour''' is a mainly [[residential development]] in the [[Newhaven, Edinburgh|Newhaven]] area of [[Edinburgh]], the capital city [[Scotland]].

==History==
[[File:Port of Leith - Western Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 4184106.jpg|thumb|Western Harbour and the Dock gate]]

Between 1936 and 1942 the [[Leith|Port of Leith's]] western harbour was created by the construction of  two [[Breakwater (structure)|breakwaters]], the western of them running out from Newhaven into the [[Firth of Forth]].

A large area of land to the east of the western breakwater has since been reclaimed through [[landfill]], on the opposite side of the water to [[Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh|Ocean Terminal]].

In 2003, it was the location for the [[2003 MTV Europe Music Awards]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3245921.stm|title=MTV awards rock Edinburgh|date=6 November 2003|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The awards ceremony was held in a 6,000 capacity [[wikt:big top|big top]] arena constructed specifically for the main event.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/3020199.stm|title=MTV awards boon for Scotland|date=12 May 2003|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

In 2004 the owner of the Docks, [[Forth Ports]], announced plans to carry out a major redevelopment of the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/business|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112183738/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/business.cfm?id=333702004|title=Business &#124; The Scotsman|archive-date=12 November 2007|website=www.scotsman.com}}</ref> The planned development, which was given supplementary planning guidance by the [[City of Edinburgh Council]] in 2004, will be the size of a small town with up to 17,000 new homes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4251869.stm|title=Leith set for major development|date=10 February 2005|via=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> The [[New Urbanism|new urbanist]] masterplan was designed by the new classical office of [[ADAM Architecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=ADAM Architecture |date=2005 |title=Western Harbour, Leith, Scotland |url=https://adamarchitecture.com/project/masterplan-for-new-urban-quarter-at-western-harbour-leith-scotland/ |archive-url=}}</ref>

[[File:The Element, Western Harbour, Edinburgh.jpg|thumb|left|The Element building at Western Harbour]]

Initially, three large residential blocks were built along the western breakwater in 2009. However,  interest in further development suddenly halted, largely as a result of the [[2008 financial crisis]] and later the decision to cancel the [[Edinburgh Trams]] project to Leith and Newhaven.

Interest in Western Harbour has picked up again with the decision to complete the [[light rail]] link to Newhaven, which has since opened to passengers in June 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-06 |title=Edinburgh tram extension carries first passengers |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-65825816 |access-date=2023-10-06}}</ref> ''The Harbour Point'' & ''Gateway'' residential developments were completed in 2019 and the new replacement Victoria Primary and Nursery school opened its doors in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-25 |title=Victoria Primary School Nursery |url=https://futureschoolsedinburgh.com/victoria-primary-school-nursery/ |access-date=2023-10-06 |language=en}}</ref> Another five development-ready sites went on the market in 2022 that would see up to 600 homes built on 10 acres of brownfield site.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Urban Realm |date=14 November 2022 |title=Tram extensions spark renewed interest in Edinburgh's waterfront |url=https://www.urbanrealm.com/news/10241/Tram_extensions_spark_renewed_interest_in_Edinburgh%27s_waterfront.html}}</ref>

== Transport ==

[[File:Tram at Newhaven.jpg|thumb|Tram arriving at the Newhaven terminus]]

=== Bus ===
Western Harbour has bus stops on Newhaven Place, Western Harbour Drive, Sandpiper Drive and Lindsay Road, all served by [[Lothian Buses]]  service 11.

Services 16/[[Night service (public transport)|N16]]  and the [[Airport bus|Skylink 200]] also serve the Lindsay Road bus stop.

=== Tram ===
The area is served by  '''Newhaven''' Tram Stop, located on the north side of Lindsay Road. This is the east terminus of the [[Edinburgh Trams|tram line]].

{{s-rail-start|noclear=yes}}
{{s-rail|title=Edinburgh Trams}}
{{Rail line|previous=''Terminus'' |next=[[Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh|Ocean Terminal]]<br><small>''towards [[Edinburgh Airport tram stop|Airport]]''</small>|route=''Newhaven – Edinburgh Airport''|col={{temporary rail colour|8D122A}} }}
{{s-end}}
<br>

==Places of interest==
[[File:Lighthouse Park, Western Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 5451385.jpg|thumb|Lighthouse Park]]
=== West Breakwater Lighthouse ===
At the very northern tip of the breakwater sits an abandoned lighthouse built in the 1950s. It became known locally as the ''Point o' Leith''. As navigational technology advanced it was eventually decommissioned. Unfortunately it has lay derelict for many years and has long been the target of heavy vandalism.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Welsh |first=Kaite |date=12 July 2021 |title=The abandoned Edinburgh lighthouse urban explorers cannot stay away from |work=Edinburgh Live |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/abandoned-edinburgh-lighthouse-urban-explorers-21032589}}</ref>

=== Lighthouse Park ===
A grass landscaped parkland at the north end of the western breakwater and south of the lighthouse, overlooking the dock gate. Some parts of the existing park may be temporary due to ongoing development in the area.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Turvill |first=Donald |date=21 October 2022 |title=Edinburgh Western Harbour to get hundreds of new homes as plans set to progress |work=Edinburgh Live |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-western-harbour-hundreds-new-25327481}}</ref>

=== The Western Harbour Ponds ===
Since the development halted several years back, three ponds have formed within part of the excavated area. These have become home to several species of birds and other wildlife. A temporary tree preservation order has been issued for a collection of trees on the site.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Turvill |first=Donald |date=10 July 2023 |title=Residents fight to save 'precious' ponds from development plans |pages=Edinburgh & East |work=STV News |url=https://news.stv.tv/east-central/edinburgh-residents-fight-to-save-precious-ponds-from-development-plans }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{commonscat-inline}}
* [http://www.adamarchitecture.com/projects/housing-and-masterplanning/masterplan-western-harbour.htm Masterplan at Western Harbour] - [[ADAM Architecture]] UK

{{Areas of Edinburgh}}
{{Residential buildings in Edinburgh}}
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[[Category:Areas of Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Leith]]
[[Category:Redeveloped ports and waterfronts in Scotland]]
[[Category:New Urbanism communities]]