Plans for new Highland showground

The Highland Show has been at the ground for almost 50 years

Scotland's national showground could have a new home within six years under new detailed plans.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland site would move from Ingliston, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, to the other side of the A8.

The move is being driven by plans for a major expansion of Edinburgh Airport on to the RHASS owned land.

But officials said Edinburgh airport, operators BAA would have to pay the costs of move, priced at about £275m.

We are pleased that we will not have to face the possibility of moving away from this area, which has been our home for nearly 50 years Ray Jones RHASS chief executive

Bosses at RHASS welcomed the plan for the new site, which would be named Norton Park.

But they stressed it would only come into being if they secured funding for the move.

Ray Jones, chief executive of RHASS, said: "We are pleased that we will not have to face the possibility of moving away from this area, which has been our home for nearly 50 years."

The decision to move is based on a government white paper on the future of air transport, published in 2003, and a "planning framework" for western Edinburgh, which outlined expansion plans for the airport on to the Ingliston site.

An updated framework was published by the Scottish Executive in November, which revealed more than 1,200 acres of green belt land would be lost under the plans to transform the economic hotspot.

A detailed feasibility study, funded by Scottish Enterprise, the executive and RHASS, was undertaken around a year ago to look at the move in detail.

Boost the economy

The study has now come up with a master plan for the new site.

Mr Jones said he believed the move would help boost the economy.

"Location has always been a vital part of the RHASS's success," he said.

"With more than 400 buses passing the showground everyday, its close proximity to both the M8 and M9 motorways, the airport, as well as the proposed tram and Edinburgh Airport rail link, we are delighted that the proposed site remains in a such a prime position for easy visitor access.

"As Scotland's new national showground, Norton Park would provide the people of Scotland with a unique set of facilities, with potential to almost double the economic impact of the RHASS activities to around £450m per annum."

Stephen Gallagher, director of global connections at Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, said: "Relocation of the showground would help unlock the expansion potential of Edinburgh Airport and boost Edinburgh and Scotland's global connections."

A spokesman for BAA said: "Any decision will be subject to commercial negotiations and we look forward to continuing those negotiations."