Green light for 65 London Road Student Accommodation in Edinburgh

17th Dec 2020
| News
| Izzy Watson

We are delighted to announce that together with HG Developments our proposal for a redevelopment of the site at 65 London Road to form a high quality 76- bed Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) has had planning approved by City of Edinburgh Council at committee yesterday (16^th December). The proposal will replace the disused car wash buildings that are currently present. Planning and development consultancy Turley provided planning advice for the scheme.

Situated within Edinburgh’s Meadowbank area and characterised by its industrial heritage and later commercial and residential development, the site is of triangular shape, adjacent to the main East Coast railway line and Clockmill Lane to the South, and London Road to the north. The ongoing re-development of the Meadowbank Sports Centre sits opposite, with its wider proposed masterplan for the area seeking to realise around 600 new homes. The proposed development seeks to build upon HG Development’s investment in the area, with new student residential accommodation now under construction, on the neighbouring plot at 63-65 London Road.

Seeking to address the prominent corner of the site, to its eastern approach, the material and language of the building follows the emerging palette of the new developments currently proposed in the area, in addition to responding to the tones of the more historic tenements that form the wider context.

“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.”

Spokesperson for

HG Developments

The proposals provide 76 self-contained studios with a shared communal room located on each floor. The new development is connected to the neighbouring student housing scheme via a glazed link corridor that will ensure a more efficient energy strategy across both developments and promote the use of sustainable technologies such as heat recovery. A green roof to the new development supports both the attenuation of surface water and the enhancement of biodiversity within the site, with the wider landscaping offering increased amenity space for the students and a greater greening of the wider London Road streetscape. On-site bicycle storage and car-club spaces promote active travel.

65 London Road North

65 London Road-east

Ruta Turcinaviciute, Project Designer commented: “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.

“The proposed building seeks to address the prominent corner of the site, to its eastern approach, while the material and language of the building follows the emerging palette of the new developments currently proposed in the area, in addition to responding to the tones of the more historic tenements that form the wider context.”

A spokesperson for HG Developments commented: “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.”