Go-ahead for new student accommodation in Edinburgh questioned as universities expect drop in numbers

Opportunity to look at more affordable housing, says MSP

The student accommodation will fill a gap site left by the closure of a petrol station

APPROVAL of plans for purpose-built accommodation for 141 students at Abbeyhill has been criticised as “premature” amid uncertainty over students numbers as a result of Covid.

Lothian Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said there was an opportunity to think afresh about providing more affordable housing but instead it seemed there was a return to “business as usual”.

The new block, proposed by Edinburgh-based property company Glencairn Properties, will fill a gap site in Montrose Terrace where a Shell petrol station stood before being forced to close after a fuel leak in 2011.

Ms Boyack said: “The pandemic is an opportunity to reassess what residents want for the city.

“We should be looking at developing more affordable housing, sustainable and community-led development for Edinburgh and identifying a ‘new normal’. Instead, it appears we are simply returning to ‘business as usual’.”

The developers said the new accommodation would “support the growth ambitions” of the universities and colleges in Edinburgh as major drivers of the local economy.

But there is much uncertainty over how may students universities can expect in the next academic year, starting in September, with fears that Covid-19 will deter many, especially overseas students, from coming.

Ms Boyack said: “Only a few weeks ago Edinburgh University expressed serious concerns about the projected massive drop in student numbers in the city.

“It would therefore seem premature to be approving more student accommodation when there is a huge amount of uncertainty on the future of Edinburgh, including student numbers.

“Edinburgh Council has been consulting on a new local plan and one of the issues being looked at is how the growth of student housing should be managed.

“In recent months I’ve been campaigning in the Scottish Parliament the support NUS Scotland’s campaign for students to have the right to be consulted on rents, and to have more say in the running of purpose-built student accommodation.”

Planning permission was granted by the council’s development management sub-committee at a virtual meeting last week, with conditions on cycle parking.

The site still has significant contamination following the fuel leak, although clean-up work began in 2012.

The development involves 141 student units in a mix of clusters and studios, together with common areas, a laundry, gym, cycle parking and underground bin stores.

The site is at the corner with West Norton Place next to the General Store and across from the Abbeymount studios.

The developers say it will be a “characterful” building which has been designed to “complete” the original plans for the street set out in the 1800s.

Daryl Teague, managing director at Glencairn Properties, said he was “thrilled” at the go-ahead for the development.

He said: “These proposals will redevelop a vital location in the heart of the capital and help to tackle Edinburgh’s growing student accommodation without removing available properties from housing stock.”