Work on the Maybury development, which would also include hundreds of affordable homes, had been hoped to start as early as next year and be completed by 2025.

But the Edinburgh Evening News reports that planning officials have urged councillors to reject the proposals – drawn up by West Craigs Ltd and Dunedin Canmore Housing Association – when they are put on the table later today.

While the land earmarked for the development is allocated for housing, it’s thought that an issue over an essential new junction on the greenbelt has sparked concerns.

Stuart Buchanan of West Craigs Ltd said: “It is very strange that the council officers are recommending refusal partly based on us wanting to build a junction at Craigs Road/Maybury Road.

“In 2015, the council acquired part of this very green-belt land from the Scottish Government explicitly to enable them to build an improved junction at Craigs Road/Maybury Road.”

The developers have agreed with Lothian Buses that service 31 would serve the new development, combining with nearby rail and tram links to provide a connection with the city centre.

But planners say that without two road junction improvements and “clarity regarding the delivery of a footbridge to the site” the application cannot be approved.

However, according to the city’s own action programme, infrastructure improvements to road, rail and tram networks will be undertaken by the council to support development across the city.

Developers said they had offered to pay for feasibility studies to progress the infrastructure.

Mr Buchanan said: “We are disappointed that up until now the council has failed to progress any junction design at Craigs Road/Maybury Road and has also failed to undertake any work on the proposed new rail bridge to improve the existing access to the new Gogar interchange station.

“The responsibility for delivering the road junctions and new bridge is entirely with the council under their own action programme.

“This is a £280m development proposal for 1400 homes of which 25 per cent will be affordable by Dunedin and a new primary school which the development will be funding.”

The developers will lodge an appeal if the application is refused by councillors.