Everybody's building (mainly student flats and hotels)
Plus: Oasis singer blasts council's "stinking attitude"; and Labour’s "shame" over ex-leader
Student flat and hotel plans driving Capital development
The transformation of the Capital continues apace with a series of major student accommodation and hotel developments being announced or receiving planning permission.
The biggest development is the submission of plans for the former Royal Bank of Scotland offices on Dundas Street which include proposals for accommodation for almost 600 students, alongside more than 200 homes. At the same time, more student flats have been given the go-ahead in Gorgie, with hotel plans approved for Morrison Street and proposals announced for a new aparthotel off Leith Walk.
The flurry of schemes is further evidence of how developers continue to see student accommodation and hotels as safer bets than housebuilding, with larger and more certain returns, in the Capital.
Meanwhile, a new Housing Secretary has been appointed by the Scottish Government amid hopes of a windfall for housebuilding north of the border. Mairi McAllan has taken up her post - succeeding former housing minister East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan - just as the UK Government announced a 10-year, £39 billion housebuilding programme, with a consequential increase in funding for the Scottish Government. She will sit as part of the Scottish Government’s Cabinet.
In response to calls from the charity Shelter, Ms McAllan said she would “advocate for the greatest possible funding” for housing, but could not commit to passing on all the UK Government funding to the sector.
The Dundas Street plans would see a large-mixed use development including 599-bed student accommodation, 207 residential homes, office and commercial space. The proposals, submitted by Izar V Lux S. à r. L and Fusion, come three years after the demolition of the former bank offices.
The former Murrayfield Sports Bar in Gorgie is to be demolished to make way for 80 student flats after revised plans from developers EH1 Students were approved by the council. At the same meeting last week, plans to partially demolish two office blocks at Calder Road, near the City Bypass, to make way for 370-bed student accommodation were rejected due to a lack of access to public transport, active travel routes and community facilities.
In response to objections that student accommodation is being built at the expense of much-needed housing, Tony Banks, chief executive of EH1, said it could help to increase housing availability by shifting more students into purpose built accommodation: “It will be a great addition to the city’s accommodation for students and free up capacity in the stretched housing system in Edinburgh.”
Meanwhile, the Edinburgh One office block on Morrison Street is be partially demolished and refurbished to create 256-bed four-star business hotel for the Dalata Hotel Group.
Leith Walk would get a new 28-bed aparthotel under plans submitted to the council by Eren Properties to demolish an empty warehouse off 254 Leith Walk, near its junction with Balfour Street. With a 109-bed hotel recently approved at Cameron Toll, it continues a move towards more hotels outside the city centre.
YOUR EDINBURGH BRIEFING
DEFINITELY LAIRY: Oasis singer Liam Gallagher has hit out at the city council, saying its “attitude f****** stinks” after officials suggested its fans were drunk, middle aged and overweight. The comments were made by various officers during a meeting of the council, emergency services and concert promoters to prepare for the band’s three sell-out shows at Murrayfield Stadium in August. Gallagher responded on social media after the comment were reported in The Sun.
LOCAL HEROES: Disability campaigner Kiki Macdonald (pictured with brother Euan), who cofounded the award-winning Euan’s Guide website which reviews the accessibility of venues, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours. She is joined by, among many others, Charles Pelling, manager of the Lady Haig Poppy Factory (OBE); hospital radio volunteer Malcolm Kirby of Red Dot Radio (OBE); Alan Borthwick, artistic director of the Edinburgh Gilbert and Sullivan Society (BEM); Edinburgh University climatologist Gabriele Hegerl (CBE); live theatre audio describer Bridget Stevens (MBE); and Juniper Green crossing patrol supervisor Shirley Jamieson (BEM).
LABOUR ‘SHAME’ OVER DAY: The man who complained of sexual harassment by former councillor leader Cammy Day has said the Labour Party should be ashamed after readmitting him to the party. A police investigation found “no evidence of criminality” after Day bombarded the Ukrainian refugee with sexually explicit messages. The complainant told the Sunday Mail: “What message does that send to victims of sexual harassment?
AUCTION HISTORY: Historical documents spanning centuries will be sold in Scotland’s Capital this week. Letters from Mary Queen of Scots and original sketches by acclaimed author Roald Dahl are among the highlight items to go under the hammer in Edinburgh on Wednesday at an auction of books and manuscripts at Lyon & Turnbull.
A REST FOR REBUS: Sir Ian Rankin has said his most famous creation is being “put to bed for a wee while” as the 65-year-old turns his attention to his next novel. The crime thriller, set in London, will not feature Inspector Rebus, he told an audience at the launch of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. Rebus is languishing in prison following his last outing, so expect more from him in future.
FULL CHARGE: The Scottish Government is to give councils the powers they need to enforce local congestion charge schemes. The move has been confirmed by Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop after councillors in Edinburgh highlighted the issue was holding them back from developing proposals in the Capital.
‘TOXIC’ HISTORIC: The Scottish Government has stepped in to help resolve staff complaints at Historic Environment Scotland, which oversees historic sites including Edinburgh Castle. The Daily Record reports the working environment at the agency headquartered at Longmore House, in Newington, is "toxic", with at least two senior managers are under investigation and chief executive, Katerina Brown, on sick leave. "Some of those at the top walk around like they own our castles,” it quotes one insider as saying.
BAKERY ‘BOUNCER’: The hugely popular Lannan Bakery has hired a bouncer or "queue warden" after parents warned its long line of customers were forcing children attending Stockbridge Primary onto the road.
CAVE CLOSURE: Owner Anwar Ulhaq is closing his Ali’s Cave store on Lothian Road in August, after more than 40 years as a one-stop shop for DIY and household goods. He blamed the decision on rising costs, competition from online competitors and the changing nature of the area, with less office workers and local residents dropping in.
GARDEN GIFT: The public garden planned for the grounds of the old Royal High School have received £2.85m from one of the UK’s biggest philanthropic trusts. The Julia Rausing Trust, created in memory of the philanthropist and wife of Tetra Pak billionaire Hans Rausing, has awarded the grant to the Royal High School Preservation Trust to support the garden project in the grounds of the future National Centre for Music.
ANOTHER SHOOTING: Shots have been fired at a house in The Inch area of the city in the latest incident in the ongoing drug gang-related violence. Police are investigating the incident which is reportedly linked to Dubai-based criminal Ross ‘Miami’ McGill. They have made two more arrests in recent days, taking the total connected to the feud in Edinburgh and Glasgow up to 44.
COUNCIL PAY BALLOT: Council workers are to be balloted on a new pay offer from the local authority umbrella body Cosla. Amid the threat of strike action by the Unison union, council workers have been offered a 4% pay hike for the current year, followed by a 3.5% increase next year.
Pic of the week
THE BUSINESS
Capital a growing base for space data
Edinburgh’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence for the gathering and analysis of space data has been further cemented by the arrival of a North American company, PCI Geomatics.
Based at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, they use Earth observation image processing to deliver actionable, climate-related intelligence. Scotland’s Capital is home to around 30 data companies working in this field.
The company is recruiting for multiple roles in Scotland and across the UK.
President and chief executive June McAlarey stated: “Scotland’s rising profile in the global space economy has been unmistakable.”
OFFICES AVAILABLE: Two neighbouring modern office buildings on Research Avenue North in the Heriot-Watt Research Park in west Edinburgh are on the market for sale or for rent. The Renishaw Building extends to 9,379 square feet (871 square metres) over two storeys. Young House extends to 9,607 square feet (893 square metres) over two storeys. The selling agent for both properties is Carter Jonas.
HOME START: Capital headquartered homebuilder, Miller Homes, has launched a new development in Danderhall in Midlothian which will bring 220 new homes to the area: 176 for private sale and 44 affordable homes.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
RAINBOW TIME: Part party, part protest, Pride Edinburgh returns to the city centre on Saturday. The Capital’s Pride festival is Scotland’s biggest and longest-running celebration of diversity. This year’s event begins with a march through the Old Town from the Scottish Parliament starting at 1pm, followed by a free festival from 2-6pm at Bristo Square, with singer-songwriter Diana Vickers headlining.
COUNTRY LIFE: Expect big queues if you are heading through the west of the city, as it is Royal Highland Show at Ingliston from Thursday to Sunday. You know what to expect by now, lots of sheep, shopping and, hopefully, sunshine. The forecast is quite encouraging, and don’t forget you can beat the traffic jams by taking the tram.
MUSIC FESTIVAL: The Tinderbox Collective and Granton Youth are hosting an all-day music festival called NxNW All-Dayer at The Pitt in Granton on Saturday from 3pm, celebrating young, emerging artists. The festival will feature nine acts aged 15-21, showcasing indie rock, folk, alt-pop, and more. Tickets are £10 for adults and £5 for under 25s.
QUICK BITES
TOP SPOT 1: Michelin-starred Lyla, the former 21212 on Royal Terrace, has been named Best Restaurant in Scotland at the National Restaurant Awards in London, and among the top 20 in the UK. Well done to Stuart Ralston and his team.
TOP SPOT 2: Landy’s Fish and Chips on North Bridge has been named as Scotland’s best chippy, being praised by Larder Magazine for its “generous portions and thoughtful touches like home-made tartare sauce.”
horrified to read about the ongoing student flats boom;
pleased to read about the birthday honours mentioned but sorry you didnt include David Lyle, Musical Director of EDGAS who has been part of the team with Alan Borthwick