Edinburgh PBSA proposal refused again after second appeal

A plan for a large five-story student accommodation block in Eyre Place, Canonmills, was rejected by a Scottish Government planning reporter. The proposal by CA Ventures, which aimed to build 139 student flats, was deemed to overshadow a residents' communal garden and negatively impact the area's character. Despite the initial council refusal in December, the appeal has been dismissed by the planning reporter, affirming the council's decision.

Last June, a prior proposal for the same site by the same developer was rejected by a planning reporter. Residents, who had waged a lengthy campaign against the plans, expressed relief at the recent decision.

"It's the result we were hoping for," said mum-of-three Hannah Edwards. "The decision is very similar to the one from the previous reporter, who said it was about massing and the overbearing nature of the development.

"I feel the developers can't come back again with something really similar like they did before - I feel, if they're going to try again, they will have to think about it a bit more, maybe engage with the community and make changes that actually make a difference."

Residents said that the second proposal only made minor changes from the initial one, reducing the flats from 142 to 139 and adjusting the block's height. However, they emphasised that the communal garden's grassed area would still be overshadowed, going from 100 square metres of sunlight at 4 pm to none due to the proposed student block.

CA Ventures successfully appealed the rejection of a proposal for seven townhouses on land south of the intended student accommodation site. The initial scheme included nine townhouses, but the latest plans reduced the number to seven. Residents agreed to the development of the vacant builders yard but insisted that affordable homes would be a more suitable use than student flats. Ms. Edwards suggested treating the entire yard as a single site would be preferable.

Lothian Conservative MSP Miles Briggs welcomed the dismissal of the student accommodation appeal. He said: "The community has been firmly opposed to what is a really inappropriate and oversized development. I hope what we will see now is any potential future developer really engaging with the community about what they think can fit rather than having more student flats squeezed into that site."