George Heriot’s School has welcomed planning approval from the City of Edinburgh Council’s Development Management Sub-Committee for a new full-size all-weather pitch at Goldenacre.

The new facility will provide increased year-round opportunities for children and young people to take part in sport and create additional capacity for local clubs and community users.

Demand for hockey and other sports has increased significantly and the existing all-weather provision at Goldenacre is operating at capacity. The new development will include a full-size all-weather pitch and smaller practice area, helping more pupils participate in sport at Goldenacre while increasing the amount of high-quality sporting provision available for community use outside core school requirements.

Goldenacre is already used by nine community clubs and organisations, with the existing all-weather pitch fully utilised outside core school use. The new pitch will substantially increase the all-weather capacity at Goldenacre, creating more opportunities for local clubs and community groups to access high-quality, year-round sporting facilities.

The proposals have evolved considerably through the planning and consultation processes. The approved design incorporates retractable safety netting and telescopic floodlighting to minimise the visual impact when the facility is not in use.

The project also includes a range of landscaping and biodiversity measures, including new trees and hedgerows, wildflower meadow planting, rain gardens and bird and bat boxes.

“This is an important step for sport at George Heriot’s School and for the wider community. The new pitch will give more children and young people year-round access to sport and has been carefully redesigned to reduce its visual impact on the protected views around Goldenacre.” – Gareth Warren, Principal

There is further work to complete before construction begins. The school will now progress the planning conditions, detailed design, funding and delivery programme and will keep the Heriot’s and wider community updated as plans progress.