A local New Town resident and mother-of-three has slammed student hall development plans next to her home as 'inconsiderate and out of touch' with what locals need.
Hannah Edwards is one of many Rodney Place residents living next door to Eyre Place where a London based company has proposed a six story block of 142 studio flats as purpose built student accommodation (PBSA).
Hannah said: “It feels like a big aggressive developer coming in with commercial interests to make as much money as possible without much consideration for the local neighbourhood and residents.”
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“The proposed development would tower at least one story higher than any of the local and surrounding tenements and block out all light. From a noise, light, and privacy point of view, I don’t think it’s well thought out.”
Hannah has lived at Rodney Place for 12 years. She said it was the first place she bought with her now husband. As her family has grown, they’ve done everything they can to remain in the community.
“It was the first place we’ve bought together and we’ve spent a lot of time and money extending our home into the attic to accommodate our three children because we love our house and community so much.
“I don’t object to this site being developed, but I think the PBSA proposal is not right for the size of the site. The proposed proximity, density and height will have a drastic impact on light and privacy on our community.”
Foysol Choudhury MSP for the Lothian region visited the Rodney Place community last Friday after hearing from people with concerns. Mr Choudhury later said he “supports the residents' objections.”
“When you stand in their garden it's only really then, that you get the scale and the impact the development would have on all of the residents,” said Mr Choudhury.
“The massing and height, leads to an overdevelopment of the site, with the potential to result in adverse impacts on residential amenity.”
Mr Choudhury continued: “The residents are only objecting to the student housing and support the other planning application for townhouses. While welcoming the introduction of less obtrusive townhouses and the reduced number of student apartments, they object to the overall scale of this development, its overbearing presence blocking natural light for neighbours, and dense accommodation overburdening local infrastructure and amenity.”
The Edinburgh University Student Union previously published and seemingly endorsed critical statements condemning PBSA’s in the city. The local union website said current PBSA costs in Edinburgh range from £5,355 to £12,495 per year.
“The maximum student support in Scotland this year is £7625. PBSA’s are very unaffordable for students, particularly those from a disadvantaged background.” the statement read.
“In some local authorities (e.g. Edinburgh) new housing developments must include 25 percent affordable beds, but PBSA is exempt from this legislation.”
Scotland’s National Union of Students previously criticised the en-suite and studio rooms favoured in PBSA accommodation because it isn’t “good for affordability or shared communal space.”
“It is a right, not a luxury, for students to have access to affordable housing,” the EUSA quoted on their website. As PBSA is privately owned by investors, their only goal is to make money, and not to think about student wellbeing.”
The 72-74 Eyre Place planning application was submitted on behalf of CA Eyre Place (Edinburgh) Property. The applicant applied with an address registered to London.
The application has proposed the “erection of student accommodation with associated amenity space, access, cycle parking and landscaping (142 studio flats).” The development and surrounding area sits on the corner of Edinburgh’s Bonnington, New Town and Canonmills neighbourhoods.
Since the application was published online, it has received 395 public objections compared to 25 comments in support of the development.
Rachel Mallia, director of development at CA Ventures responded to criticism: “Following feedback regarding scale and massing, we adjusted the proposed student accommodation block along Eyre Place to address any potential impact the proposals may have had on daylight and privacy. The proposed student accommodation proposals will now include 142 bedrooms (down from 210) and represent a suitable and appropriate use for this highly accessible site, whist seeking to address Edinburgh’s substantial shortfall in purpose-built student accommodation.”
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