Mecca Bingo Hall Manderston Street

The Cockburn Association supports this application.

We acknowledge that this  is a constrained site with development challenges.  Bearing this in mind, PBSA redevelopment is an acceptable use of the site which will secure much of the remaining external heritage interest.

This former mill has been extensively modified over its history and most of its heritage features have been lost.  However,  we would ask that an effort be made to salvage any remaining  art deco features of interest either for reuse on site or for incorporation into other projects elsewhere.

We are generally supportive of PBSA developments which feature cluster flats in their design since these offer a better student living environment and are more likely to offer future opportunities for conversion to mainstream housing should market demand  for student housing diminish.

We are aware of local concerns regarding this and nearby student accommodation developments in the context of the city’s ongoing housing emergency.   It is now essential that the City of Edinburgh Council commissions an independent data-driven student needs assessment for Edinburgh  to inform the Council’s current and  future  planning  position on student housing needs in the City.

It is clear that Edinburgh has a significant and varied housing need  with many permanent and transitory residents facing real challenges  in their search for  suitable and affordable accommodation.  A growing student population runs the risk of exasperating an already difficult balance of housing needs and supply.

A new Edinburgh-wide  student needs assessment is now urgently required  to provide a robust evidence base from which consideration can be given to how to manage student accommodation now and in the future, including reviewing the threshold for the numbers of university students living outside of managed accommodation; and policies for the delivery of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA).