Plans to build more than 700 homes on land earmarked for a park in Edinburgh have been rejected.

Councillors on a sub-committee unanimously turned down proposals by Springfield Homes to build close to the city's Royal Infirmary.

However, a final decision will be made by the full council next month.

The proposals were submitted in two separate applications - one 36-hectare area for 144 houses and 358 flats and another 199 homes and public open space on a 6.5-hectare plot.

More than 300 of the proposed homes would have been built on council-owned land, a sale that developers claimed could see a windfall of around £5m for the authority.

Planning officers told councillors that the site is "designated as green belt" and that "housing on the site is not justified in terms of need".

They added: "We don't need houses here and we don't have a shortfall in the five-year housing land supply.

"There has been a history of fly-tipping on this site. The only fly-tipping remaining is on the developers' ownership."

The city council is exploring turning the site into a "strategic parkland". In the council's local development plan, the area is "identified as a green space proposal in order to provide a landscaped, multi-functional parkland, woodland and country park, linking to Midlothian".

Springfield Homes' chief executive Innes Smith told the hearing that the current green-belt space on the site is "not a particularly safe area and not somewhere you would want to walk on the evening" and pointed out that the plans would invest £1m in upgrading the remaining green space for the council.

He added: "Edinburgh needs good quality housing. This development creates jobs and makes a significant economic contribution.

"We like providing community space that people can use. If my kids go in that grass, they disappear. The community wants a park there that they can use. I'm sure the parks team could use £1m."

Councillors unanimously rejected both applications.

Planning convener, Cllr Neil Gardiner said: "I simply cannot support it and wish to uphold the green belt.

"There's massive health benefits to communities to have access to that space. Once it's gone, it's gone.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for that part of Edinburgh to have that park."