A planning application for “high-quality student-led residential development” has been lodged by property developer, Summix Ltd.
Located in the Canongate, adjacent to Old Tolbooth Wynd and the Canongate Kirk, developers say the 91-bed development ‘will serve to regenerate and re-use this neglected and underused location within the heart of the Edinburgh World Heritage Site, as well as providing much-needed student accommodation‘.
Adjacent to the new Waverley Development, now under construction, the mixed use building will be a contemporary state of the art development comprising of 91 student units in a mix of clusters and studios together with a community space, student common areas, a laundry, cycle parking and bin stores. There is provision for access but car parking is not provided on site.
The quality of the design-led approach has served to deliver the final piece in the jigsaw related to a sensitive site in the World Heritage Site and Old Town Conservation Area.
It will draw on the existing fabric of the currently neglected (redundant) buildings which are at the end of their economic life.
It will also bring significant vitality, economic and social benefits to this part of the Old Town and High Street, estimated to generate more than 60 jobs.
You may think Edinburgh has more than enough student accommodation already, but not so, say the developers:
In addition, the development will address the increasing demand for student accommodation in the city. Edinburgh’s leading universities and colleges are a key driver of the capital’s economy and civic life and student bed provision in Edinburgh remains below average compared with competing student cities across the UK.
This increasing demand for accommodation places unwanted pressure on the local private rented market, with full-time student numbers across Edinburgh projected to rise by 14 per cent to 2021/2022. 1
It has also been estimated that the students from this development will generate c. £840,000 in additional expenditure on items such as food, clothes and eating out. 2 One job in the city is supported by the spending of every 11 students.
Stuart Black from Summix commented: “We are delighted to submit this application for high-quality student accommodation which will serve to regenerate this rather neglected part of the Old Town through careful re-development.
“Great attention has been taken to implement a design-led approach which delivers a final piece of the jigsaw in this World Heritage Site and Conservation area.
“The development also serves to address the increasing demand for student accommodation, fulfilling the ambitious growth plans of universities in the city, which are key drivers of the economy. It also serves to reduce pressure on the private housing market as well as delivering a substantial amount in additional expenditure into the local economy.”
1 Turley Economics, Economic Impact Assessment
2 Ibid.
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