Geography

The western edge of Edinburgh is strategically located thanks to its heavy rail and tram links, excellent links to Scotland's trunk road network, and proximity to Edinburgh Airport. In addition to the Airport, the area is already home to Gogarburn (the global headquarters of NatWest Group); the Gyle Shopping Centre; and the Royal Highland Centre (home of the Royal Highland Show). Massive-scale investment is delivering major additional commercial space and homes. 

Heriot-Watt University has its campus in West Edinburgh. The campus includes Heriot-Watt University Research Park, the city's largest research park. Major facilities based on Heriot-Watt's campus include Oriam - Scotland's sports performance centre - and the headquarters of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.

Edinburgh Park is Edinburgh's principal business park, providing over one million square feet (92,900 square metres) of office space. Multiple major companies are located in the park, including Aegon UK; BT; Business Stream; Diageo; Fujitsu; JP Morgan; Menzies Distribution; Miller Homes; and Element Materials Technology. The park benefits from superb transport links, with a dedicated rail station and tram halt. The developer Parabola has plans for a major southward expansion of the park that would deliver up to one million square feet (92,900 square metres) of office space along with 1,800 new homes and amenities such as cafés, restaurants, and a medical facility. AEG Europe has plans for a new 8,500-capacity arena in Edinburgh Park.

West Town Edinburgh is a landmark development on 205 acres (83 hectares) of land to the south of Edinburgh Airport. The development would deliver 7,000 new homes plus commercial and community space, all of it served by a dedicated tram halt.

Elements Edinburgh is another major development planned for 72 acres (29 hectares) of brownfield land adjacent to Edinburgh Airport. It would deliver 3,000 homes along with shops, offices, and a primary school. It is estimated that the development could create 4,000 new jobs in Edinburgh.

Other residential developments planned for West Edinburgh include the Garden District (a major proposed development by Murray Estates that would deliver up to 9,000 homes across five new villages); Cammo Meadows (a development of hundreds of new homes by CALA Homes and David Wilson Homes) and West Craigs (a development of 250 new homes by Taylor Wimpey).