Tag: S Harrison Developments

Transformation of Leith continues with green light for Ocean Point

Proposals for a mixed-use development at Ocean Point in Leith have been granted planning consent, subject to conditions, by councillors on Edinburgh’s Development Management Sub-Committee yesterday (15th May).

The development at Ocean Point 2, being progressed by property developer S Harrison Developments, will comprise residential and purpose-built student accommodation, along with commercial uses/co-working and amenity space.

The over £80 million development will add to the ongoing transformation of Leth’s Waterfront through delivering a vibrant and sustainable neighbourhood.

Neighbouring Ocean Point 1, the development of the brownfield site will provide two buildings and comprise a mix of build-to-rent homes (BTR), including apartments specifically for families, alongside purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), delivering a truly mixed community.

In total, 112 BTR homes are proposed, providing a mix of studio, one-bed, two-bed and three-bed apartments to meet a range of housing needs. A quarter of these are three-bed apartments designed for families, and a quarter of the apartments will be affordable housing.

There are 404 PBSA beds on offer, split between cluster accommodation and studio bedrooms. The former accommodation is intended to be a mix of five and six bedrooms.

Commercial space/co-working and amenity space are also proposed as part of Ocean Point 2, offering fantastic active frontage to Ocean Drive, with greatly enhanced public realm encouraging active lifestyles.

In addition to delivering homes, the new development will deliver significant local spend, amounting to some £5.3 million by residents and visitors annually, supporting an estimated 60 retail and leisure jobs. It has been estimated that 325 jobs will be created directly in the construction of the overall scheme.

The development neighbours Ocean Terminal, which is undergoing a £100 million transformation, delivering a mixed-use development comprising residential, commercial, retail and hospitality.

The extension of the tram line between Edinburgh and Ocean Terminal also provides connectivity between the development and Edinburgh city centre within 20 minutes.

Harrison has a long pedigree of working in the city, ranging from delivering the Malmaison at St Andrew Square, to student developments at Westfield and Gorgie, and hotel development at Osborne House, Haymarket.

A spokesperson for Harrison Developments commented: “We are delighted that we have received a green light for our planning application. This will serve to deliver much-needed homes and student accommodation to an area which is undergoing a rapid transformation, delivering a truly mixed sustainable neighbourhood.

“Regenerating a current brownfield site, this development boasts excellent transport links, especially with the new tram line, and will deliver a significant investment into the local area.

“We look forward to continuing to engage with the local community and the Council as we seek to deliver this development.”

Planning and development consultancy Turley provided planning services for the project with CDA acting as architects.

Sight Scotland Edinburgh office site set for redevelopment

Yup, it’s more student housing, folks!

National charity Sight Scotland and property developer, S Harrison Developments, have jointly submitted a planning application to redevelop the site of the charity’s former HQ on Gillespie Crescent in Edinburgh, into student homes.

The funds released by the sale of the site will enable Sight Scotland, a charity dedicated to meeting the challenges of visual impairment, to further expand its reach, and support even more people living with sight loss within existing services such as the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. It will also provide future services for the city as well as expanding its ability to fund medical research to tackle the root causes of sight loss.

Sight Scotland occupied the building for nearly a century and continue to repair and maintain it, despite vacating the building early in 2021 as it was no longer fit for purpose prior to taking the decision to sell it.

Staff were relocated to modern, open plan offices in Gorgie, suited to current working requirements, allowing them to work alongside the Scottish Braille Press Service.

Proposals include demolition of the existing vacant building and erection of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and associated amenity space, landscaping and infrastructure. A total of 145 bedrooms are proposed, with additional amenities including a cinema/multimedia room and gym. There will 100% cycle parking provision.

The development makes best use of the site and will deliver a high quality, well-designed, sustainable development, including green roofs, solar panels, air source heat pumps (ASHP), a rain garden and permeable paving.

A shared, publicly accessible amenity green space, will offer an area in front of the building for people to walk, sit and rest and provides the opportunity for social interaction of different groups within the community. The existing trees will also be retained.

Development will serve to address a well-recognised shortfall in student accommodation in the city, with a student homelessness crisis recognised by the Council in June 2023.

Between 2016/17 and 2021/22, student numbers in the city have increased by over 25%, from 53,845 to 67,355. Included in this, the University of Edinburgh saw numbers increase by 27% and Napier University by 29% over this period.1

Demand for student accommodation greatly outstrips supply, and places significant pressure on traditional family housing stock, with students occupying homes that would in many cases have previously been occupied by families.

The delivery of PBSA has the potential to free up such housing, or at the minimum provide accommodation for students who would have gone into these homes. This approach is supported by the Council’s planning guidance.

 A spokesperson for S Harrison Developments commented: “We are in a housing crisis, with a need for all types of housing.

“Demand for student accommodation greatly outstrips supply, and this is placing significant pressure on traditional family housing stock, with students occupying homes that would in many cases have previously been occupied by families.

“This proposed development on a brownfield site, if approved, will respond to this increasing demand, housing students in a central location with easy access by active travel and public transport to universities and delivering significant investment into the local community.”

Davina Shiell, Director of Marketing, Communications and Engagement for Sight Scotland said: “The funds released by the sale of the site, if consented, will enable us to further expand our reach, and support even more people living with visual impairments within existing services such as the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh.

“It will also allow us to provide new future services for the city, as well as expanding our ability to fund medical research to tackle the root causes of sight loss.”