Wednesday July 8th 2026
More new housing developments are planned for Midlothian over the next decade.
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp
The public will have a chance to have their say on future plans for up to 9,000 new homes across Midlothian at a series of drop-in events next month.
Midlothian Council is taking its draft new Local Development Plan to venues around the county to hear people’s views on land they have identified for new housing and employment opportunities over the next ten years.
It comes just weeks after a bid by Labour councillors to remove the land set aside for housing from the plan amid claims Midlothian could not cope with more homes.
At the meeting of full council Councillor Russell Imrie, who chairs its planning committee, said the funding for schools, health centres and transport needed to be in place before another house was built.
He told the meeting: “We have a responsibility to be honest with the public about what is deliverable and what is not and because of that we have to make it clear that Midlothian can’t take any more housing until the fundamental failures in infrastructure are addressed.”
Councillor Imrie said schools were over capacity, road improvements were more than a decade away and GP surgeries were overwhelmed with people unable to get appointments.
He was backed by Councillor Derek Milligan who said the infrastructure in the county was ‘past broken’.
However council leader Kelly Parry said while she had sympathy for the comments from both councillors the situation was more complex.
She said: “I do think where possible we should take an infrastructure first approach however I would throw caution against simply saying we can’t build any more houses because what that would do is throw the decision open to people who are not in this chamber.”
Peter Arnsdorf the council’s planning chief warned that if the council did not identify sites for housing in its Local Development Plan then it could fall to the Scottish Government reporters to make the decision adding “It is currently in your control but if the council does not do its legal duty the control falls to the Scottish Government.”
The consultation has now been launched online with drop in events due to be held across the county throughout August and into the start of September.
The first event is at Bilston Miners Welfare Club on August 10 between 12noon and 7pm.
There will be drop ins at Pencuik Library, August 11, Loanhead Library, August 13; Newbattle Library, August 18,; The Steading, Rosewell, on August 19; Danderhall Library on August 20; Gorebridge Library, August 25; Pathhead village hall, August 26; Newtongrange Library, August 27; Dalkeith Library, September 1 with all events running between 12noon and 7pm
A final event at Lasswade Library, on September 3, will run from 12noon to 6.30pm. Details of the online consultation can be found HERE.
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