UK: Plans to transform a vacant Edinburgh office building into 300 student beds are to be refused by local planners.
The plans for the former Finance House building on Orchard Brae included 300 student beds, 65 residential units, 124 square metres of coworking space, internal amenity and landscaping.
The eight-storey office building, constructed in the 1960s, was extended ten years later with a five-storey extension to the rear. There are nearly 170 parking spaces at the lowest level of the building accessed from Learmonth Gardens.
The developer, Finance Development LLP, wanted to provide 30 studio bedrooms with the remaining 271 student beds set out in 34 cluster flat units with TV rooms, lounge areas, a gym and quiet study spaces.
The application was referred to the council’s Development Management and Sub Committee as 43 letters in support were received, as well as 147 objections including the Stockbridge and Inverleith Community Council.
According to officers, the proposal does not comply with the local development plan and “fails to deliver the number of housing units required” as they say purpose built student accommodation “prevents the delivery of the required number of housing units in order to meet the housing land requirement.”
They wrote: “The proposal also conflicts with Policy Hou5 (Student Accommodation) as the site exceeds 0.25 hectares and less than 50 per cent of the site has been used for proposed housing. The proposal is of an acceptable scale form and design and will not have a negative impact on neighbouring amenity.
“A satisfactory residential environment could be achieved for future occupiers and the proposal complies with relevant environmental and sustainability policies. However, given the significant conflict identified with the Development Plan it is recommended that the application is refused.”
