Caldwell calls out Student Accommodation decisions
At August's meeting of the City of Edinburgh Council, Leith Walk Liberal Democrat Councillor Jack Caldwell obtained data showing the extent to which the Scottish Government's Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) has overturned Council decisions to refuse Purpose Built Student Accommodation proposals across Edinburgh.
Since 2020, the DPEA has overturned 10 refusals of PBSA by Edinburgh Council, including 3 of which in Leith Walk ward. Sites in Bonnington and Pilrig have either been previously earmarked for social-rent housing, or in some cases, had planning permission already approved.
| Application Reference | Appeal Reference | Address | Ward | Date of appeal decision | Appeal Decision | Decision Level |
20/00619/FUL | call-in | Gorgie Road, 553-555 | Ward 7 - Sighthill / Gorgie | 14/08/20 | consent subject to Scottish Ministers | DMSC Meeting – 12th August 2020 |
20/02976/FUL | PPA-230- 2323 | Lower Gilmore Place, 7 | Ward 11 – City Centre | 05/03/21 | consent - appeal granted | DMSC Meeting – 25th November 2020 |
22/01647/FUL | PPA-230- 2390 | Canongate, 179A | Ward 11 – City Centre | 12/12/22 | consent - appeal granted | DMSC Meeting – 17th Aug 2022 |
21/04469/FUL | PPA-230- 2393 | Mcleod Street (Former Tynecastle High School) | Ward 7 - Sighthill / Gorgie | 30/01/23 | consent - appeal granted | Committee Hearing – 21st Sept 2022 |
22/06119/FUL | PPA-230- 2439 | Arthur Street.27 | Ward 12 – Leith Walk | 07/06/23 | consent - appeal granted | DMSC Meeting – 7th June 2023 |
23/00008/FUL | PPA-23- 2447 | Jock's Lodge, 35 | Ward 14 - Craigentinny /Duddingston | 14/12/23 | consent - appeal granted | Committee Hearing – 21st Jun 2023 |
22/06109/FUL | PPA-230- 2447 | Lower Gilmore Place, 12-18 | Ward 11 – City Centre | 19/12/23 | consent - appeal granted | DMSC Meeting – 21st Jun 2023 |
23/06949/FUL | PPA-230- 2491 | Willowbrae Road, 229 | Ward 14 - Craigentinny /Duddingston | 26/08/24 | consent - appeal granted | Non- Determination – Appeal Lodged 3rd Apr 2024 |
22/06251/FUL | PPA-230- 2465-1 | Ashley Place, 14 | Ward 12 – Leith Walk | 07/07/25 | consent - appeal granted | DMSC Meeting – 8th November 2023 |
| Total number of appeals allowed since 2020 | 9* | |||||
*Excludes 1 application on Pitt Street at time of table production, subject to conditions set by DPEA.
Councillor Caldwell said "While a balance of housing is needed, residents across Edinburgh are increasingly becoming more aware of how little social-rent housing is being built on these sites, especially during a housing emergency.
"September's Council Business Plan update showed how much affordable housebuilding has slowed down - a trend that we've seen repeated across the country since the Scottish Government cut the Affordable Homes Programme two years ago. This was reversed in the last Lib Dem-backed Scottish Government budget, but it's caused a lasting dent. We can even see Housing Associations plots in the city sitting empty.
“The Council acknowledged in September there'd be extreme legal difficulties in declaring a PBSA moratorium - so we really need the Scottish Government to start empowering Councils to be firm on social-rent requirements on sites, and invest in social-rent housing, if we're going to get that much needed, good-quality, affordable housing in Edinburgh and Leith for long-term residents and students alike. With Housing Associations and some Scottish Councils having paused or stopped new builds in the last two years, the 2023 Scottish Government national funding cut has had a huge impact.”
The 2040 City Plan is in early development and is an opportunity for residents to shape planning policies in the next few years.