Situated at the current Clapperton poultry farm complex, located east of Livingston, ‘Drumshoreland Garden Community’ will comprise a vibrant sustainable development.

The Clapperton site, owned by Amber REI (Agriculture) Ltd, is a key component of the Scottish poultry supply chain but currently comprises ageing poultry sheds and surplus land. The value realised from this development will underpin a more than £100 million package of investment back into the Scottish food and agriculture sector, through the company’s poultry supply chain operations across Scotland.

Up to 2,000 homes (including 500 affordable homes) are proposed at Drumshoreland, and will be brought forward by Elan Homes (Scotland) Ltd, a sister company of Amber REI. This will create a high-quality mixed-use development set within a substantial parkland setting. The low carbon community will also serve to address a significant historic housing land supply problem in West Lothian.

A wide range of house types, sizes and tenures will be provided with the aim of providing genuine range and choice, and establishing a mixed, diverse community from the outset. A proportion of the site will be delivered for affordable housing at a minimum rate of 25%. Also included will be employment, education and other community facilities.

The development will also seek to embrace the philosophy of ‘a 20-minute neighbourhood’, as promoted in the Scottish Government’s recent ‘Protecting Scotland, Renewing Scotland: The Government’s Programme for Scotland 2020-2021’, where people can meet most of their essential needs within a 20-minute walk. It also means having easy access to greenspace and a local environment that encourages active travel to promote health and well‑being. As is the case with Drumshoreland this is a place where people want to live, so affordable housing is a key part of it.

Two Proposal of Application Notices (PAN) for planning permission in principle (PPiP) have been submitted to West Lothian Council. These PANs formally note that planning applications will be submitted in due course to establish the principle of development on the site. A PPiP application will be submitted covering the wider site and the other PPiP will cover an area of land located within the wider site.

The development at Drumshoreland will act as a catalyst to deliver an investment package in the Scottish agriculture and food sector in excess of £100m. The initial plan is to improve, replace and expand elements of the Scottish poultry supply chain, strengthening this vital and significant rural employer, this will include:

• Redevelopment of existing feed mill at Edinburgh Airport and a new animal feed mill located in the Firth of Forth.
• New sustainable farming space across West Lothian.

These new state-of-the-art low carbon facilities will deliver jobs both directly and indirectly through the supply chain. The delivery of these improved facilities will also serve to assist in improving standards in the sector while making a major contribution to the Scottish Government’s target of a net-zero society in terms of carbon emissions by 2045.

Commenting on the proposals, a spokesperson from Amber REI (Agriculture) said: “We are delighted these exciting proposals are being bought forward and that they will deliver significant investment not only in West Lothian but across Scotland as a whole.

“As an exemplar low carbon community Drumshoreland will not only deliver much-needed housing, including affordable housing, but employment, education and community facilities. It will also deliver significant post-COVID investment into the poultry processing supply chain across Scotland, creating jobs, both directly and indirectly, as well as delivering a low carbon future for the agriculture sector.

“This new sustainable neighbourhood will not only help to meet the housing needs of both this and future generations, it will also deliver a clear investment legacy across Scotland.”