24-06-2025
Plans for Edinburgh garages to be demolished for student housing development
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New plans to demolish Edinburgh garages and industrial buildings for student accommodation have been submitted after proposals were withdrawn by the applicant last year.
In April 2024 we reported how the development, on Ratcliffe Terrace, was recommended to be refused by planning officers as the application was subsequently withdrawn by SDR Property Developments Ltd.
The firm has since returned with a new application covering 27-29 and 31 Ratcliffe Terrace as well as 4 South Gray Street.
The development would see existing buildings, including a motor repair shop and a laser imaging equipment shop, demolished to make way for three blocks of student flats.
It also includes associated cycle parking, landscaping and access arrangements as the three blocks would be linked through a series of communal outdoor courtyards, providing a pedestrian link between South Gray Street and Ratcliffe Terrace.
The previous application proposed a block of 59 student beds. However, planning officers said the development would "fail to accord with the Development Plan and associated guidance."
The site consists of four industrial buildings and a stonemasons yard to the rear. The two and a half-storey building on Ratcliffe Terrace is currently used as office space and three others are industrial, occupied by Causeways Garage.
The newly submitted plans include a total of 66 student flats comprising a mix of 8 per cent studios and 92 per cent cluster units. Four of those would be accessible and the cluster units range from four-six bedrooms.
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The existing buildings on the site would be demolished and a five storey block fronting Ratcliffe Terrace would be built. The block to the rear would be four-storeys in height.
The main entrance would be located on Ratcliffe Terrace and the proposed development consists of external and internal shared amenity space on ground floor level. An external roof terrace is also proposed at site B, located on the rear block.
Amenity space indoors would include a reception and student lounge, with another area located to the rear of the site facing onto an external courtyard acting as a games hub and lounge.
A detailed planning statement concludes: "With the aid of a suite of supporting documents the Planning Statement has assessed the application against the Development Plan in accordance with Section 25 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) and found the application to be in accordance.
"The Design Statement submitted with this application addresses the design narrative and solution and should be read in conjunction with this Statement.6.4 The proposed development represents a high quality, innovative and respectful proposal for the redevelopment of a brownfield site which is compliant both with the Development Plan and other material considerations."
The full application and supporting documents can be found here.
