WATCH: Edinburgh tram extension given the go-ahead

A project to extend Edinburgh's tram service to Newhaven has been approved.

Councillors made a final call on the plan to bring the line beyond its current end on York PLace during a meeting on Thursday.

Work on the £207m project will begin by the end of the month, with the first passengers expected by early 2023.

It will be paid for initially through loans, which will be largely recouped through ticket sales.

Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Edinburgh Council's Transport and Environment Convener, said: "This is a crucial decision for Edinburgh - for today's residents and for generations to come.

"Taking trams to Newhaven will allow brownfield development sites to be transformed, opening up the whole of north Edinburgh to a wealth of opportunities in terms of jobs, housing and local facilities. And vitally, this will be achieved without putting pressure on existing Council budgets.

"Our city is growing faster than anywhere else in Scotland - a sign of our continued attractiveness as a place to work, live, visit and spend time - and boosting our public transport infrastructure in a sustainable way is fundamental to catering to our expanding population.

"I firmly believe the tram project is in the best interests of the city's current and future residents and, as an Administration, we will do everything in our power to make sure it's delivered on time and on budget. Next stop: Newhaven!"

There have been concerns from those opposed to the project about disruption to businesses along the route, although the council is setting aside a £2.4m package of support for firms.

Paul Tetlaw from Transform Scotland said: "We fully the support the scheme to extend the route to Newhaven - this will serve a key transport corridor and boost development in the city creating more sustainable travel patterns.

"Cities around the world - many much smaller than Edinburgh - are developing and expanding light rail systems. They can efficiently transport large numbers of passengers on key transport corridors and help to maintain and enhance town and city centres. Electric power means there are no emissions at the point of use and so air quality targets are more readily achieved.

"In the UK Nottingham, Birmingham, Manchester and Blackpool are all extending their systems and across the water Dublin is doing likewise.

"Edinburgh's initial tram route has been a great success, it has consistently outperformed passenger projections and there is ample evidence that it has encouraged motorists to leave their cars behind and take the tram into the city."

However, critics have argued the decision was rushed through - and that the money could be better spent elsewhere.

Conservative Councillor Nick Cook said: "The Conservative message on the tram extension is clear: Edinburgh Council should invest in building schools, not in a £93m per mile tram extension.

"Unfortunately, SNP, Labour and Green councillors have opted to vote to extend the tram and, in doing so, have backed a costly business case filled with unknown financial risk to taxpayers.

"It offers terrible value for money.

"The Edinburgh Tram Inquiry is set to become one of the most expensive in British history. It is arrogant in the extreme that the council has today opted to proceed without the Inquiry's full findings."