Revised plans submitted for controversial new development on Leith's Iona Street

Property group Watkin Jones has amended and resubmitted plans for a controversial new development in Leith comprising student accommodation and residential flats.

Watkin Jones plan to demolish an existing warehouse and ancillary office building on Iona Street to make way for 250 units of managed student accommodation , 60 private residential flats, 20 affordable social housing flats, 428 cycle spaces and more than 1000 square metres of greenspace.

Under the proposals, the 13,310 square metre development would comprise buildings arranged in a backwards C shape with a central courtyard.

The building facing towards Iona Street would reach five storeys above street level and one storey below.

The eastern leg of the buildings would lower in height to four storeys and change from a stone façade to buff brick.

Meanwhile, the western block would lower further to be three and a half storeys.

When news of the development was revealed in November last year, many Leith residents quickly came out in opposition to the plans.

A local residents’ campaign group, Save Iona Street, was formed to influence the proposals and ensure they align with residents’ visions for the area.

However, when an official, detailed planning application was submitted in March this year, Save Iona Street was disappointed with the offer.

Almost 130 comments on the development were submitted to the council’s planning application portal, 118 of which were objections, while only seven came out in support.

Now, developers have come back with revised proposals for the development.

Changes to the original plans include:

- Pulling back the north east bookend to closely align with adjacent the adjacent 52 Iona Street building.

- Reduce projection and alter fenestration details where the top floor of the student block extends south.

- Replace white pre-cast with sandstone where appropriate to make it the primary cladding material and respect the uniformity of the conservation area.

- Step back top floor on Iona Street elevation to emphasise eaves level and improve daylight to existing Iona Street flats.

- Windows on the east and west elevations removed and replaced with alternative detailing to alleviate privacy concerns.

- Access junction has been redesigned in accordance with G7 Fact Sheet

- External cycle store is fully enclosed with a timber structure.

The Save Iona Street campaign welcomes the development’s revised plans, but do still hold concerns about the buildings’ scale.

A spokesperson for Save Iona Street said: “We are pleased to see that the developer has taken on board some of the feedback from the community and revised aspects of the proposal.

“However, we remain concerned about the scale and nature of this development and the potentially negative impact it will have on local residents.

“We understand the need to develop the site but we want to see thoughtful, considered housing that responds to the needs of the local community, not those of a commercial business.”

Commenting on the revisions to the Iona Street proposals, planning consultant for the project Ross Manson, said: “We are pleased at the meaningful community contributions to revising the planning application for this site in Iona Street.

“Many of the changes have been incorporated and Watkin Jones are keen to see the plans being scrutinised by councillors next month. The new Watkin Jones proposals reduce the scale and massing of the original plans. We are pleased at the positive working relationship that has developed with the city council as we have revised the proposals.

“Issues raised by neighbours have been addressed during the consideration of the planning application. Watkin Jones is confident that this new development will greatly enhance the local community and contribute towards a positive, vibrant neighbourhood.”