£7.5 billion worth of development has been proposed for the city of Edinburgh, threatening the greenbelt status of several areas including Braid Hills – the popular tourist site near Morningside.

Despite the continuing economic crisis, Edinburgh looks set for a large scale renovation as the government confirms a number of structural developments. These include projects on the waterfront and in the city centre, as well as in the southeast and west of Edinburgh, in a bid to sustain a vibrant city image.

The Edinburgh greenbelt aims to reduce the city's increasing urbanisation and subsequently protect attractive landscapes that surround the capital by prohibiting site development.

Duncan Campbell, spokesman for Friends of the Edinburgh greenbelt, said: "We appreciate the city has to expand, but the way to do that is through a proper technical survey to find the areas better suited for development.”

Development schemes in the South of Edinburgh present risks to areas such as Braid Hill. The rural site acts as a wildlife and nature reserve, and is a popular walking route for locals and tourists alike. It's extensive landscape views, however, may be compromised, with a significant rise in development plans proposed for the surrounding areas.

Although initial proposals have been modified in keeping with the SPP (Scottish Planning Policy), there is still a risk for greenbelt areas. Edinburgh City Council has conducted a re-evaluation of certain areas, and even deleted particular sites, such as Newcraighall, South East of Edinburgh, from the greenbelt entirely, conducive to their response to objections which have been raised.

Allan Lundmark, director of planning at Homes for Scotland, favoured the plans to remove greenbelt sites. He told the Edinburgh Evening News: “There is simply insufficient land being made available.”

He added, “Greenbelt land is not necessarily all of high quality, nor does it always serve a useful function. It's time to debate how we balance the protection of the environment and enhancement of green space with the needs of local people for family housing.”

The planning proposals and subsequent evaluations are the result of the Edinburgh City local plan which has replaced the South East Edinburgh local plan, finalised in August 2005. This local plan implements policies and proposals of the Edinburgh and Lothians structure plan 2015, a long-term vision for overall development.

One major development scheme proposed by the council is the increase in student accommodation. The number of students enrolled at Edinburgh University has increased dramatically over the last decade, rising 50 per cent to 66,000. This in turn has led to a significant loss in family housing.

Jason Hogg, director of development land at property consultants Jones Lang LaSalle, praised the proposal earlier this year, telling the Evening News “This is exactly the type of housing which Edinburgh requires at the moment. There is a significant demand for quality family accommodation servicing the city.”

Strong objection to such development still remains, however. Local SNP councillor Colin Keir maintained he was, "absolutely against" the proposal. “I'm all for more affordable housing, but this is the wrong place and the wrong time for a development like this on greenbelt land.”