The volume of homes being delivered concurrently will also help address housing demand, with 20-25% of all homes to be for affordable rent.

Alongside new homes, key infrastructure is being delivered to support a sustainable, connected community.

Almost 20km of pipework has now been laid for the Shawfair district heat network. Nearly all homes currently under construction will connect to this network, providing low‑carbon heating and hot water to residents with prices protected from wider energy market pressures.

The network is being delivered by Midlothian Energy Ltd, a joint venture between Midlothian Council and Vattenfall Heat UK.

Work is also underway to prepare the site for a new all‑through education campus at Shawfair. Once completed in June 2028, the campus will include a two-stream primary school with capacity for 459 pupils and early years provision. This will be extended to a three-stream school with capacity for 676 pupils when required later.

Secondary school facilities will be able to take 900 pupils initially with the option to expand to accommodate 1200 pupils, whenever needed. Sports and community facilities will be included.

A planning application for the Shawfair Campus has now been submitted to Midlothian Council Planning Authority.

Shawfair continues to benefit from major supporting infrastructure already in place, including a rail station on the Borders Railway and an expanding active travel network, helping to create a more sustainable community.

The volume of activity at Shawfair demonstrates the impact of an “infrastructure first” approach being taken to the delivery of a strategic site.

Early investment by major stakeholders and Midlothian Council has helped unlock development at scale, supported by external funding. This includes a Vacant and Derelict Land grant for site remediation of the former Monktonhall Colliery site. Funding from the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP) was also secured to establish the district heat network.

Councillor Stuart McKenzie, Midlothian Council cabinet member for housing, said: “Shawfair is growing into a well‑planned community with new homes, a new school and modern infrastructure coming together in one place.

“This approach helps us meet housing need while building for the future, with low‑carbon heating, good transport links and community facilities from the outset.

“While construction on this scale can bring disruption for residents living nearby, the council and Shawfair LLP meet regularly with landowners and developers to coordinate activity and reduce impacts where possible. The Shawfair website has also recently being updated, helping residents keep track of progress.

“We want residents to feel reassured that services and infrastructure are being delivered alongside new homes, supporting a great, green place to grow.”

The community benefits from this development have included investment in local wellbeing, infrastructure, youth engagement, environmental improvement and education across Danderhall, Newton, Millerhill and wider Midlothian.

The launch of the Shawfair Community Fund in 2025 creates a mechanism backed by housebuilders that provides £12,000 annually to support local organisations and events, including Chris’s House Walk of Hope, Danderhall & Newton Gala Day, Millerhill Community Hub Café, The Base youth club, Danderhall Lunch Club and CyclingUK initiatives as well as direct support through funding, materials, volunteer coordination and partnership brokering for groups such as the Danderhall & District Guerrilla Gardeners, Newton Parish Church, Storehouse Foodbank and Myeloma UK fundraising events.