Next Phase of Seafield Investment On Track For Summer Start

“This latest investment prepares for the site’s longer-term future - continuing to serve a flourishing Capital, protect our environment and maximise the generation of green energy.”

Professor Simon Parsons
Director for Planning, Environment and Assurance, Scottish Water

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin MSP has visited Seafield Waste Water Treatment Works to hear of plans for a significant investment to further improve the site’s odour performance.

Plans have been prepared in recent years to improve the way that sludge is stored at the site, building on earlier efforts to reduce, contain and treat potential sources of odour emissions from Scotland’s largest Waste Water Treatment Works.

Challenging market conditions globally hampered progress, but it is now expected that construction will begin this summer, subject to final approvals, with completion by the end of 2027. 

The Cabinet Secretary was invited to visit the site by local MSP Ben Macpherson, who has chaired the site’s dedicated stakeholder group since 2016. They were joined by Veolia’s Director for its Northern Region, Mark Wilson, and Scottish Water’s Director for Planning, Environment and Assurance, Professor Simon Parsons. 

Professor Parsons said: “The stakeholder group at Seafield has played a crucial role over many years in scrutinising and supporting our efforts to ensure the site can serve its essential purpose with as little impact as possible on neighbouring communities. 

“While there is no single solution to challenges with odour, a combination of investment and sustained operational effort has delivered real progress. This latest investment builds on that and prepares for the site’s longer-term future - continuing to serve a flourishing Capital, protect our environment and maximise the generation of green energy.” 

Mark Wilson, Director of Northern Region at Veolia added: “"Veolia is proud to work in collaboration with Scottish Water and local stakeholders to continuously improve the site. These improvements will directly benefit and reduce any impact on local residents and businesses. 2025 was a record year for Seafield, with more green electricity generated than ever before, demonstrating our commitment to continuous improvement and ecological transformation. 

“We have been working closely with Scottish Water to secure final approvals for the latest plans, and will ensure the work is delivered safely, whilst continuing to serve customers and protect the environment." 

“Seafield is an important asset for the local area and the investment reflects ongoing engagement with local residents and businesses to address concerns on odour.”

Gillian Martin
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy

As well as hearing of the progress of the next phase of investment for Seafield, the visit allowed Ms Martin to see the wet wipes and other ‘unflushables’ which arrive at the site every day via the Capital’s sewers. She also heard of longer-term plans to prepare for the site’s expected return to Scottish Water ownership in 2029 and plan for future needs as Edinburgh continues to grow.

Climate Action Secretary Gillian Martin said: “It is vital that we improve and protect Scotland’s waste water network, to ensure the needs of society, economy and environment can be met and maintained for future generations. 

“I welcome this investment into Scotland’s largest waste water treatment plant. Seafield is an important asset for the local area and the investment reflects ongoing engagement with local residents and businesses to address concerns on odour.” 

The local constituency MSP for Leith Ben Macpherson added: “The progress that has been made at Seafield in the last decade has only been possible thanks to years of hard work by many people, not least the members of the site’s stakeholder group. Working with local campaigners and partners, together we have secured significant investment in the facility that will make a meaningful and impactful difference, to notably reduce odour risk and further enhance performance. 

“I’m grateful that the Cabinet Secretary was able to visit the site at this time, to emphasise the Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in Seafield, as we approach the first of several important milestones relating to the asset in the years ahead. The stakeholder group will continue to play a central role in making sure that the facility is mordernised and further improved, to meet the needs of a growing population and the challenges of climate change. It is essential that our capital city has a high performing, state-of-the-art water treatment facility.”