Ratcliffe Terrace Demolition and PBSA Development
Posted on: April 13, 2024
The continued demolition of perfectly sound and usable buildings is simply unsupportable
Address: 27 – 29, 31 Ratcliffe Terrace Edinburgh EH9 1SX
Proposal: Demolition of an existing mixed use (office and garage) building and the construction of a six-storey purpose-built student residential development with associated access and landscaping, including change of use
Reference: 24/01092/FUL
Closing date for comments: Sun 14 April 2024
Determination date: Frid 10 May 2024
Cockburn Response
The Cockburn objects this application.
The proposed demotion of the current building on Ratcliffe Terrace cannot be justified. This quirky, distinctive and highly original building is clearly suitable for continued use or for imaginative conversion. It is of some local heritage interest and a valuable survivor of a Newington streetscape that has lost many similar features of interest and distinction over the years. In the current climate emergency the continued demolition of perfectly sound and usable buildings such as this is simply unsupportable.
We consider that the proposed six-storey purpose-built student residential development has nothing to recommend it. It is of a poor architectural design whose height, scale, bulk, massing, horizontal pattern and materiality are odds with the prevailing streetscape. We question whether this proposal has appropriate levels of internal and external amenity space, external greenspace and adequate access and servicing arrangements.
The design of the proposed building seems to anticipate the potential for future expansion onto adjacent light industrial areas should these become available for redevelopment.
We also note local concerns regarding the increasing concentration of student accommodation blocks in this area of the city. These concerns underline the need for objective, comprehensive and data-driven student needs assessments to accompany every PBSA application.