Council grants planning permission for £24m student and homes quarter at Abbeyhill

An ambitious proposal for a new mixed-used student and residential quarter in the Abbeyhill area of Edinburgh has been given the go ahead by Edinburgh City Council.

Aerial view showing Abbey Lane, Edinburgh

The Abbey Lane development brings together a 298-bed student complex with 66 new homes on the half-acre site, near London Road. Artisan Real Estate will deliver the homes, while Unite Students will develop the student accommodation.

Artisan bought the former industrial estate site in 2016 and Unite Students acquired the option to purchase the site in July this year.

The estimated total cost for the development is in the region of £24 million and the 66 new apartments including affordable homes and retail units built around a landscaped courtyard.

The design includes a generous amount of green space, including a courtyard area, green roofs and roof gardens.

Welcoming the planning approval Artisan’s Group Development Director Clive Wilding said: “This is part of a £90 million investment commitment by Artisan to raise the standards of sustainable living at several prime city centre brownfield sites across Edinburgh.”

Mr Clive went on to say that the development is putting emphasis on what people want from their living spaces in a post Covid-19 era.

He said: “Significant emphasis is placed on the quality of internal space and light to create enjoyable home-working environments, whilst accessible gardens and landscaping promote health and well-being by making nature and well-designed outdoor space integral to the day-to-day living experience.”

Group Property Director Nick Hayes added that the local community have been consulted through each stage of the planning process.

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