New plans for student accommodation in Edinburgh face local opposition amid ongoing housing debates
Edinburgh: There are fresh plans for student flats where a pub used to stand. The old Radical Road bar is gone, and now developers want to build more student housing.
Last year, they got the go-ahead to change a residential project on Willowbrae Road into student flats, which stirred up quite a bit of controversy. Locals were not happy, with nearly 130 objections filed. Councillor Danny Aston pointed out that the community preferred a mix of private and affordable homes instead.
Just three months after getting permission for 48 flats, 83S Student Residence Limited is back with a new proposal for a 138-bed student block. Some folks are saying they’re trying to cram in students like sardines!
Now, there’s another plan for 13 apartments on Northfield Drive, adding to the over 180 units already approved. If this gets the green light, a hot food takeaway on the site will be knocked down to make way for a five-story building with amenities and bike parking.
Southside Student Build Ltd is behind this new project, working with One Foot Square Architects. They plan to have a reception area on the ground floor for security, which sounds pretty smart.
The design includes 13 student dwellings, with one accessible studio on the ground floor. It’ll have everything a student needs, like a shower, cooking area, and a lounge. Plus, there’s a laundry room on the same floor.
Each of the upper floors will have cluster flats, all with en-suite bathrooms and shared kitchen and lounge areas to encourage social living. They’ve even thought about waste management, planning to handle recycling privately.
Back in September 2023, the initial plans for 48 apartments were approved, and then in August 2024, they got the go-ahead for 138 more units after a controversial switch from residential to student housing.
The Scottish Government had to step in to settle the application through an appeal. You can check out the latest proposals on the council’s planning portal if you’re curious!
