A report to be presented to councillors in Edinburgh has recommend the city’s tram network be extended to Newhaven.
The findings of an Outline Business Case, to be heard on November 19, has preferred an extension of the line to Newhaven over shorter alternatives to Ocean Terminal, the foot of Leith Walk or MacDonald Road.
The proposed extension would fill in a section of the original route which was scaled back because of budgetary constraints.
If passed, the first stage of project development can begin.
Council leader Andrew Burns said: “The updated Outline Business Case provides further justification for bringing the tram to Leith, clearly demonstrating the social and economic impact the extension could have on this key area of the city.
“This first stage of project development for the extension will allow us to take another step towards achieving this. A significant period of work will ensure robust governance, allowing financial evaluation and risk analysis to be carried out.
“By obtaining funding for these initial stages from the city’s public transport revenues, we are satisfied there will be no impact on Council budgets in the short or long term.”