Edinburgh planning: Major city-centre development with housing and student accommodation rejected amid concern over density of scheme

Councillors on the city’s development management sub-committee voted 7-4 to refuse permission for the proposals for the former Royal Bank of Scotland site in Dundas Street.

Nearby residents had objected to the plans for what was described as Edinburgh's biggest city-centre housing development for a decade.

Concerns were voiced about the density of the development and the total number of new homes falling below the level expected for the site | supplied

Permission was previously given for 350 new homes on the site - a mix of build-to-rent, private residential and mid-market rent - along with new offices and commercial retail space.

But developers Ediston Real Estate wanted to change the build-to-rent element to purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) - which would be developed, owned and managed by Fusion Group - and change the office building to more homes. The end result would have been 593 student bed spaces and a reduction in the number of homes to 315.

The objectors argued the original plans would already have put extra pressure on public services, such as GP practices, but the addition of so much student accommodation would “massively exacerbate” the problem.

Welcoming the refusal, Karen Licurse of Fettes Row & Royal Crescent Association, said: "We're very happy with the decision and very glad the councillors understood that the sheer density of the proposed site would undermine the community and not be good for the World Heritage Site.”

But she added: "We do want to see the site developed and so we are very happy to work with the developers to try to find a solution that respects the area but also addresses Edinburgh's housing crisis and is an extension of the New Town."

She said the meeting was "quite a nail-biter". "There was a lot of debate and we weren’t very sure how it was going to go."

Other concerns voiced by councillors included the fact the total number of new homes proposed was 10 per cent below the number set for the site in the City Plan 2030 and fears that approving such a proposal could set a precedent for other developments.

Ediston development director Ross McNulty said: “We’re obviously disappointed with the outcome of the committee meeting. We’ll take some time to reflect on the outcome and the debate at committee about the proposals before we decide how to respond.

“We can’t help but observe that the committee missed an opportunity that would have delivered many new homes quickly that would help tackle the housing emergency.”

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