Amendments made to mixed-use proposals for Edinburgh city centre site

A planning application was lodged in December 2015 for the proposed redevelopment of the buildings on King’s Stables Road. These are being taken forward by a joint venture between Peveril Securities – the development arm of the Bowmer and Kirkland Group – and Campus Development Management.

The proposed development will now include a mix of residential units, a hotel, an arts facility; student accommodation and a variety of commercial units activating the ground floor of the development. The proposals also include improved public realm integrating the existing courtyard with new routes and courtyards throughout the development, including the enhancement to the setting of King’s Bridge.

Primarily, the balance in the mix of building-uses for the site has been amended leading to a more than five-fold increase in the amount of residential units, from an original proposal of 11 units to 59 units, and a reduction in the amount of student accommodation by a third.

The development will now include:

King’s Stables Road has been identified by the City of Edinburgh Council as one of 12 “priority” development sites seen as crucial to the Capital’s economic future. The current mix of buildings on the site – formerly council offices, storage premises and workshops – have lain vacant since 2009 and were put on the market in 2014 by the council, who deemed them surplus to requirements. The site has been taken under-option from the local authority.

A key driver for the development has been the potential for the commercial buildings that sit around King’s Stables Courtyard to function as a coherent arts-led hub. This then becomes a destination in its own right, keys into existing city arts festivals, directly benefits the neighbouring business community in Grassmarket, and compliments the council’s wider aspirations for a new cultural quarter for the area.

Other updates include the revisiting of the roofscape and the removal of upper floors to the hotel, student accommodation and residential blocks in addition to the introduction of dynamic roof elements that respond to the context of the Old Town.

The amended proposals were re-advertised by the council on Friday.

Commenting on the amended scheme, Charles Vyvyan from Campus Development Management, said: “Following a review of the initial proposals submitted in December 2015, the scheme has been updated in response to market conditions, the consultation feedback and an ongoing dialogue with council planning officials.

“As we worked our way through the planning process we undertook extensive community consultation, engaging closely with the local community. We have taken account of this and have changed the balance of the mix of uses, including a more than five-fold increase in the amount of housing we had originally proposed to 59 units.

“The scale and massing of the proposed development has also been reduced, with the removal of upper floors. The current balance of uses in this exciting mixed use development is proving very attractive to potential residents and occupiers alike, and will revitalise this neglected part of the city centre.

“This part of the Grassmarket is not viewed in a particularly attractive light and our exciting proposals will breathe much-needed life into this part of the Old Town providing residential flats, hotel, student accommodation, and facilities to accommodate and promote the arts.”