Some 3,500 houses will be built outside Edinburgh over the next 20 years if development plans by Murray International Holdings (MIH) go ahead.

The proposed Garden District is a billion-pound project and will feature residential and retail buildings as well as a garden centre named Calyx.

It is hoped this facility, the plans for which are being led by BBC gardening expert Jim McColl, will draw thousands of visitors and contribute millions to the economy.

But before concrete tools and other construction equipment can be brought in to start building the homes, schools and a sports stadium, Edinburgh City Council needs to give permission for development on the 600 acres of greenbelt land.

MIH chairman Sir David Murray said if plans were to go ahead on the site he purchased more than two decades ago, it would benefit the local area and leave a lasting legacy for the Scottish city.

"Edinburgh's Garden District will undoubtedly provide a significant boost for the Scottish economy, creating real jobs and investment," he told the BBC.