Former Edinburgh trampoline centre to be demolished to make way for three new homes in Portobello under plans

Portobello Mews LLP submitted plans with the City of Edinburgh Council’s planning department on April 14 to demolish the former Orcadia Trampoline Centre which closed in early 2024, after operating at Windsor Place in Portobello since the 1960s.

The applicant hopes to start the demolition work on the Portobello Conservation Area site this year and construct three mews homes on the site for a “holistic solution” for the empty buildings which currently occupy the site.

The plans show that private south facing gardens would be provided for each house, which will be two storeys high with a pitched roof to look similar to buildings in the surrounding area.

The 700m2 Portobello site is currently occupied by single storey commercial buildings, a small courtyard and access passageways, and a small, largely paved, garden to the south. The principal internal spaces are a canteen, a trampoline hall, and a studio space.

The proposals would see the Orcadia Trampoline Centre demolished to make way for three new homes. | Rightmove

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The applicant’s agent, Ferguson Planning, said in the planning documents: “The scheme proposes a development of three contemporary mews houses, providing high quality family accommodation in keeping with the area. The proposal provides a holistic solution for a site which currently makes no contribution to the area.

“The proposed redevelopment of the site has been sensitively designed to respond to the historic and architectural character of the site and surroundings, whilst enabling the site to be regenerated for a beneficial use.

“The proposals seek to protect the setting of the surrounding listed buildings and provide a new use which better connects with the grain and character of the surrounding area.

“Overall, the redevelopment proposals will bring benefit to the historic environment of the area, enhancing its special qualities and protecting its setting.”

Opened by Drew and Sheila Kennedy in 1965, the venue was hugely popular for children's parties and also boasted a cafe and dance studio. | TSPL

Subject to the receipt of planning and other consents, the intention is to commence development by the end of 2025. It is envisaged that the buildings would be complete by the end of 2026.

The applicant added: “The homes will have an attractive paved entrance courtyard, with Corten steel planters, planted with mature acers, clipped taxus and herbaceous planting which is chosen will thrive in the generally north facing area.

“The layout ensures that the parking does not dominate the area, but also ensures that the three houses both relate to each other, but are given sufficient privacy.

“The private gardens to the rear are largely south facing, and will provide space for relaxation and entertainment for families. Planting is designed to assist biodiversity. Heat pumps are located away from areas where their noise may be a nuisance.”

The plans show that timber cladding has been introduced to the rear of two of the proposed new houses, to reduce their apparent visual mass. The gable of the third house has been set back from the boundary wall to reduce its impact on the gardens to the rear of Lee Crescent.

The site is bounded by the rear facades of Portobello High Street to the north, the rear facades of Windsor Place to the east, and the rear facades of Lee Crescent to the west. It is generally open to the south, looking over the gardens of Lee Crescent and Windsor Place.

Opened by Drew and Sheila Kennedy in 1965, the Orcadia Trampoline Centre was hugely popular for children's parties and also boasted a cafe and dance studio. The founding couple have both now passed away and the business, formerly known as The Kangaroo Club, was leased out for a number of years.