The application from regeneration firm Urban Union and architects and town planners Barton Willmore includes plans for 315 dwellings (175 flats and 140 houses of which 134 will be for private sale), landscaping and associated drainage and infrastructure at the site.

The approved plan is for phase three of four at the development, part of the council’s 21st Century Homes programme, one of Scotland’s largest housing-led regeneration projects.

Urban Union, a partnership between Robertson and McTaggart Construction, has already delivered 193 homes of which 108 were for social and mid-market rent and 85 properties which were sold privately. A further 177 homes are currently under construction with 35 homes occupied to date.

In total over 700 homes will be delivered at the development, with work expected to be completed in 2023.

Neil McKay, managing director of Urban Union, said: “We are very pleased with the council’s decision to grant planning permission for the next phase of the Pennywell Living development.

“The first two phases welcomed significant interest and we hope to see the same response to phase three.

“We are committed to creating lasting communities and look forward to expanding the strong, growing Pennywell community even further.”

The Pennywell development is the result of an investment of £42 million by the City of Edinburgh Council and includes £7.9m grant funding from the Scottish Government.

Jon Parry, associate architect at Barton Willmore in Scotland, said: “We are making great strides in the redevelopment of Pennywell and today’s approval is yet another significant milestone. The proposals have been designed to be sympathetic to the earlier phases of regeneration and provide high quality, well designed energy efficient housing set amongst well landscaped public realm.

“The approval will support the area’s vision of being a place to work, shop, live and visit.”