NEW student accommodation planning permission has been approved by City of Edinburgh Council.
The plans were approved yesterday proposing to put the new housing for students on London Road.
The developers also announced that Edinburgh charity People Know How will locate their headquarters on the ground floor at a neighbouring student premises.
The project will consist of 76 beds and is a second phase development of the neighbouring student accommodation found at 61-63 London Road.
Situated opposite Meadowbank Stadium, the development will replace the existing car wash and will see the delivery of a six-storey block, predominantly in brick.
The planning application was progressed after the site was re-marketed when a previous residential development consent for the scheme could not be progressed due it not being possible to build over a sewer present on the site.
Four parking spaces will be delivered including two accessible spaces and two to accommodate cars for the City Car Club now known as Enterprise Car Club.
There will be capacity for 198 bicycle spaces as well as Sheffield racks available for visitors and staff, giving a total of 210 bicycle spaces.
A spokesperson for HG Developments commented: “We are delighted to have received approval of our application at committee today. This high-quality student accommodation proposal will serve to redevelop a brownfield site in previous commercial use.
“Given the high sustainability of the location there is no requirement for car parking spaces beyond those for the City Car club and disabled spaces, and we are ensuring that there is excellent provision of bicycle spaces.
“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.
“This also helps to reduce pressure on the private housing market as well as delivering a substantial amount in additional expenditure into the local economy.”
On completion, Edinburgh based charity People Know How will locate their headquarters on the ground floor of 61-63 London Road, closer to the communities in which they operate.
Glenn Liddall, Chief Executive of People Know How commented: “Having worked closely with the developer we were pleased to see this scheme, which acts as an extension to the neighbouring building which is now under construction, gaining planning approval.
“We are locating our headquarters here, allowing us to serve the local community and enabling us to grow.
Project Designer for 3DReid, Ruta Turcinaviciute said the scheme was an important moment for the redevelopment of the complicated site saying:
Ms Turcinaviciute said: “The proposed scheme marks an important moment for the future redevelopment of a constrained and complicated site, which will benefit the urban quality of London Road and represent a further contribution to the ongoing regeneration of the wider area.
