Plans for a £1bn housing and leisure development in the west of Edinburgh were officially unveiled on Wednesday.

Named the Garden District, the sustainable development would include up to 3500 new family homes, a sports complex, parks and gardens and a 25,000 seat regional stadium which would host both sporting and cultural events.

The community would also house a major new visitor attraction named ‘The Calyx: Scotland’s International Garden Showcase’, containing education spaces and horticultural facilities designed to let the city’s residents get their hands dirty.

Gardening expert Jim McColl said he had been working with his colleagues on the idea for The Calyx for more than 20 years.

He said: “The Calyx will inspire, inform, educate and delight the people who visit. This will include many from outwith Scotland, drawn by its innovative design, its status as a centre of excellence and its role in educating the populace on some of the big issues that face society.”

The developers behind the project, Murray Estates say it would create 650 new jobs and could generate income of £50m a year for Edinburgh. If approved, work on the garden District would get under way in 2014, with completion due in 2030.

Sir David Murray, chairman of Murray International Holdings, said: “Our vision for Edinburgh’s Garden District has been carefully formulated over several years and we believe these ambitious proposals will provide a positive lasting legacy for the city.

“We are an indigenous company and one of the biggest employers in Scotland so we look forward to embarking on a project that could provide employment for the present and into the future.

“Edinburgh’s garden District will undoubtedly provide a significant boost for the Scottish economy, creating real jobs and investment.”