Green light given to hotel and flats at King's Stables Road

Plans for the last piece of the puzzle at King's Stables Road have now got the go-ahead after Scottish Government officials approved an appeal from the developers.

King Stables Road development artist's impression. Picture: Contributed

Peveril Securities and Campus Development Management’s application to build eight new flats, a hotel and an arts facility in the Old Town conservation area has been granted planing permission.

The tweaked application scaled back original plans for 16 flats to eight mews residences, boosting the number of hotel rooms by 16.

Changes also include adjustments to the roof to match the original pitch and a new entrance to the hotel.

The reporter appointed by Scottish Ministers, Claire Milne, said there was no material considerations to justify refusing planning permission. In her decision, she said: “Overall I am satisfied that the amendments to the principal scheme identified within the appeal proposal are consistent with the objectives set by the brief and conform to the relevant design policies.”

The appeal was against non-determination after Edinburgh council planners were too tied up with the Royal High School inquiry to prepare a report for the planning committee to consider. It was therefore deemed a refusal and passed to the Scottish Government for consideration.

The site, at 18-20 King’s Stables Road including the mews buildings behind, is part of the development of the south end of the road.

Described as a landmark development, the builders said the overall revamp would breathe new life into a neglected part of the city.

Work is already under way on the new scheme following the successful planning application as a joint venture between Campus DM and Peveril Securities last year.

The project includes a mix of flats, 167-bed student accommodation and a variety of commercial units on the ground floor of the development.

Approved in August last year, architect Fletcher Joseph Associates said work was well under way on the principal site. In an update, they reported: “Bowmer and Kirkland have cast the foundations, steel is being put together and the first pods for the student accommodation portion have started to be craned in.”

Planning was also granted in March for 11 new flats in a three storey development on Lady Wynd – originally slated to also include an arts facility.

A spokesman for Campus DM said at the time: “As part of the planning approval for the wider development, the proposals at Lady Wynd, including an arts facility and residential flats, were not given consent due to the impact on neighbouring properties and the relationship the Old Town’s urban context.

“The arts facility has been relocated to form part of the hotel development approved for the site, with an improved frontage to King’s Stables Road.”