Proposals for a seven-storey 394-bedroom student scheme set to go to committee tomorrow have received the backing of local councillors and a local community group.
Property developer Harrison Developments is seeking to deliver purpose-built student accommodation at Westfield Road, Gorgie, which will serve to redevelop a brownfield site comprising a former furniture retail store, vacant old office building and an associated car park.
Local ‘Capital Coalition’ councillors Cathy Fullerton (SNP) and Donald Wilson (Labour) have given their backing to the scheme, as has local arts, crafts and cultural community group, Gorgie Collective.
Part of the scheme will see the delivery of a community room, which came following discussions between the applicant and Gorgie Collective. This will not only benefit the local community through the establishment of a meeting space, providing vital facilities for local voluntary organisations, but local artists will also be commissioned to provide public art for the building once completed.
The proposal will also incorporate a gym, cinema room, games room and study space. Given the proximity of the development to excellent transport links and university and college campuses, only four car parking spaces are proposed with up to 400 cycle parking spaces.
The development will help to address the increasing demand for student accommodation in the city, reducing pressure on the private housing market as students, who would previously have been going into houses or flats, will be occupying purpose- built accommodation
While the potential to have housing on the site has been looked at, it has been demonstrated that a 50/50 split between this and student housing (as laid out in non-statutory student guidance) would lead to privacy issues and also not be financially viable. Only 104 individuals could be housed on the site in this scenario, compared with 394 if it is fully student accommodation, would fail to meet the objectives to reduce the pressure of the student population on the general housing stock.
It has been estimated that around £3.6 million per annum will be generated in expenditure by students on items such as food, clothes and eating out, providing a welcome boost to the local economy. This expenditure is estimated to support a further 30 jobs in retail and leisure industries.
York-based Harrison has already completed a mixed-use scheme comprising retail, leisure, eateries and student accommodation at Haddington Place on Leith Walk. The Haddington Place development has been followed by the regeneration of Buchan House on St Andrew Square where a Malmaison will shortly open.
Commenting on the proposal Cllr Fullerton commented: “This is an ideal location for a student development, especially given the low amount of student accommodation in the area and the Council’s stated wider aim to disperse purpose-built student accommodation throughout the city.
“The development will also serve to free up housing as these students will be housed in bespoke managed accommodation, not in general housing stock. It will also continue the welcome regeneration of the area by introducing new economically and socially active people into the locality.”
Katriona Gillespie from Gorgie Collective commented: “Gorgie Collective is happy to be working with Harrison on this community-focused development.
“We are delighted to see the incorporation of public art by local artists into the building design, together with a much-needed community room which will be a vital resource for local voluntary groups.”
David Clancy from Harrison Developments commented: “The support of the local councillors and Gorgie Collective for this scheme is greatly to be welcomed.
“We have delivered a scheme that will not only benefit students but will benefit the whole the whole community. This is an ideal location for student accommodation, located on key transport routes, and will serve to free up general housing stock for families and others.”
Despite the local support highlighted above, the proposed development is not universally popular and student accommodation provision in particular has come in for criticism across the city. Councillors will make their decision tomorrow.
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