Edinburgh city centre social club set to be six serviced apartments after £24,000 of tram contributions agreed
Changes to be made despite objections from local residents
A former Edinburgh social club is set to be transformed into six serviced apartments after developers agreed to pay a £24,000 transport contribution.
Ziydin Properties Limited submitted plans last year to convert the former Edinburgh City social club at 7 Baxter's Place, near the Playhouse theatre.
The proposals were agreed in principle in February, but final approval was only granted on August 7 following a legal agreement for the developer to contribute to the city's tram network.
Approving the plans, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “The change of use to short-term lets will not have a materially detrimental effect on the living conditions of nearby residents or an unacceptable impact on the character of the area.
“The proposals comply with the Development Plan subject to the mitigation of impacts on transport infrastructure by the securing of financial contributions via a legal agreement.
“There are no material considerations that outweigh this conclusion.”
Ziydin Properties Limited will be required to contribute the net sum of £24,000 based on the six serviced apartments and existing 620sqm social club use to the Edinburgh Tram network, in line with the approved Tram Line Developer Contributions report.
Three of the units proposed will provide two bedrooms and three will provide one bedroom. A reception and check in-out area will be also be provided at the entrance level which will be manned at all times.
Physical alterations to facilitate the change of use include the introduction of a door opening between the reception area and the main corridor, and the introduction of a door into a store room from the reception.
The applicant also highlighted that the serviced accommodation will be permanently manned by staff so that someone will always be available to respond to queries or address any issues should they arise.
The number of guests accepted within the property will be set at a maximum of two for the one bedroom apartments and five for the two bedroom apartments. Smoking within the properties will be prohibited and no pets will be allowed.
Despite these assurances, the change of use application received 11 objections and four notes of support.
Among the objections, one local resident highlighted traffic concerns. She said: “The extra traffic on Blenheim Place to enable servicing of ’serviced apartments’ will be excessive on an already often double and sometimes triple parked waiting/unloading area/street.
“There is already excessive noise disturbance from vehicles delivering and servicing the Marriot Hotel including huge waste removal lorries, which I have videos of getting stuck and having to reverse out and often damaging the trees etc.”
Another local resident is fearful of anti-social behaviour at the serviced apartments: “They were used for this purpose before and the result was copious disturbance from partying late at night and anti-social behaviour from intoxication.
“Human nature hasn't changed and neither will the result, despite the landlord's assurances. The concentration of six flats raises the probability of one or more or all being obnoxious at any given time.”
Another angry local added: “To grant STL status would completely contradict the council's previous actions on this group of flats.
“We're calling for the council to apply forensic rigour in the processing of this application and come to the only decision possible, to protect the amenity of our long-standing and well established community: REFUSAL.”
However, there were comments in support of this planning application, with one local resident saying: “The actual servicing of the apartments is a valid concern, but the disruptions will likely be fewer if there is a single maintenance crew who can be managed.
“Indeed, Sovo's reputation appears, from all accounts, to be excellent, and they have made every indication that they intend to work with the neighbours and the community to ensure that they are a positive part of our community.
“Because of this reputation, and the indication of a higher price point that will likely lead to more responsible renters, I'm happy to join the supporters of this proposal.”
Works which commenced in February 2025 were all internal and did not require planning permission or listed building consent. Only two of the six apartments proposed are completed and operational.
The applicant now has three years to complete the works to turn this social club into six serviced apartments at the top of Leith Walk on Baxter’s Place.
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