West Lothian Council approved the masterplan for the "Winchburgh development", which includes proposals to build five new schools, a town centre, a park and shopping and commercial space.
The scheme has been approved in principle, subject to the successful signing of a section 106 planning agreement. Situated eight miles from Edinburgh, the development proposals also include up to three shopping centres, a commercial park and new infrastructure including a new motorway junction, train station and park-and-ride facilities.
"The Winchburgh Development represents a significant housing and infrastructure project for Scotland, worth over £1 billion in total," said Graham Barnet, of Sigma, which is advising on the scheme.
The development site covers about 350 hectares, which makes it one of the largest residential and mixed-use developments in the country, according to the developer.
The developer plans to submit a detailed planning application for the first phase of the scheme, which would include about 180 new homes that would be built by housebuilders Barratt Homes and Miller Homes.
The scheme was first proposed 10 years ago and is expected to take up to 15 to 20 years to complete.
