‘Health is greater than history’? Conserving Edinburgh’s Social Housing
Wednesday, February 12
How far do conservation principles apply when the subject isn’t an A-listed castle or country house, but public housing?
How far do conservation principles apply when the subject isn’t an A-listed castle or country house, but public housing?
The Cockburn will seek reassurance on several proposed changes.
The Cockburn will seek reassurance on several proposed changes.
The six-acre site on Dundas Street has planning permission for 350 new homes with various Build to Rent, private residential, mid-market rent and office space. However, developer Ediston wants to change two blocks from Build to Rent to PBSA without altering the appearance of the original plans. Additionally, they want to change the proposed office area into more residential units, necessitating a height increase. The PBSA development would host 580 students, and the office block would be converted to around 80 homes, increasing the number of homes for sale to around 200. The mid-market rent block of 108 homes would remain the same. The developer has said that inflation has caused a significant impact on the construction market, so the original plan is now not financially viable.
The New Town Quarter was initially conceived as a mixed-use, self-contained site. What is now being proposed is a primarily residential development dominated by PBSA. The six-acre site on Dundas Street has received planning permission for 350 new homes, including various options for Build to Rent, private residential units, mid-market rent, and office space. However, the developer, Ediston, wants to modify the original plans by changing two blocks from Build to Rent to Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) without altering their appearance. Additionally, they wish to convert the proposed office area into more residential units, which would require increasing the height of the buildings.
The PBSA development is expected to accommodate 580 students, while the conversion of the office block would yield around 80 new homes, bringing the total number of homes for sale to approximately 200. The mid-market rent block, consisting of 108 homes, would remain unchanged. The developer has cited inflation as a significant factor affecting the construction market, making the original plan financially unviable.
At its most recent meeting, the Cockburn’s Policy and Development Committee reviewed the proposed changes to this scheme and considered them significant. The New Town Quarter was initially envisioned as a mixed-use, self-contained site. The current proposal, which leans heavily towards residential development dominated by PBSA, has raised concerns among committee members. When the anticipated new planning application is lodged, the committee will seek reassurance on several proposed changes.
Public Consultation Site:
Holyrood Park Public Meeting with Lorna Slater MSP, community groups and stakeholders.
Market forces alone are insufficient to determine how and where new office and new hotels developments are located
Market forces alone are insufficient to determine how and where new office and new hotels developments are located
The proposed use in close proximity to the conference centre is acceptable.
We note that this application builds on a prior approval for the redevelopment of this former office block as offices. However, the proposed increase in height in the current application will require scrutiny in relation to the heights of neighbouring buildings and with regard to views across the city to the site; views from the Old Town area may be most impacted.
It is evident from the commercial press that the city still has an unmet demand for high quality office spaces. Market forces alone are insufficient to determine how and where new office and new hotels developments are located in the city centre.
Warm up this winter with a ranger-led walk to spot festive wildlife
A walk around Granton highlighting the industrial heritage treaures
Professor Margaret Bennett, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
