PLACE & PLANNING

View and comment on planning applicatons here: Planning applications – The City of Edinburgh Council. Every individual has a voice on this.

16 Oct: Causewayside Lads Institute: 27-29 Ratcliffe Terrace

In respect of the building's social welfare history and preserved architectural character, and recognising the Category C importance ascribed to it by Historic Environment Scotland, GPCC today requests that the City of Edinburgh Council now issue a Building Preservation Notice for the building at 27-29 Ratcliffe Terrace, under Section 3 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas (Scotland)) Act, 1997.

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14 Oct: Planning Democracy: Scotland's Planning System: Time for a radical overhaul

On 27 November (6 to 8.30pm) Planning Democracy launches a powerful manifesto to transform Scotland's planning system in order "to truly serve (the country's) people and places"; to re-shape it to deliver "stronger community power, rights-based planning, environmental protections, affordable sustainable housing, and land reform". There will be a host of expert speakers presenting the case at Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL. Here is the Sign-up Form. Here is the Manifesto Summary  Here is the Planning Democracy Site.

This looks to be a very strong initiative. It's a standard complaint of community councils that they don't have a loud enough voice in planning debates. This event could open new opportunities. You should patch into this.

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8 Oct: More on the Ratcliffe Terrace Planning Refusals

From the Blacket Association:

"Two applications were submitted by two different applications for the adjacent sites, but working closely together to produce a unified scheme. ...  We objected on the basis of the scale of the development and the demolition of some appealing local buildings... The Council refused the two proposals for slightly different reasons - but essentially because of the overdevelopment of the site in terms of height, scale, massing and built form; the lack of amenity for occupants; the impact on the Blacket Conservation Area (in terms of the rear development of the site at 4 South Gray Street), and the failure to justify the demolition of the existing buildings in terms of the whole life carbon footprint. ... This is quite a list so it looks like the developers will have to have a substantial rethink about this. ..."

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3 Oct: Planning Decision: 25/02258/FUL

33-41 Ratcliffe Terrace: Purpose Built Student Accommodation.

Refused. Refer to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning

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3 Oct: Planning Decision: 25/02904/FUL

27-29, 31 Ratcliffe Terrace; 4 South Gray Street: Purpose Built Student Accommodation.

Refused. Refer to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning

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29 Sep: Planning 25/04488/FUL: GPCC Submission in response to Request for Consultation: Comment = Neutral

From Grange Prestonfield Community Council

"This is a response to the Request for Consultation of 8 September 2025.

GPCC has followed the sequence of planning applications for this site.

We have no substantial comment on the detailed proposals for this development.

Outwith that confine, we would offer the material comment that, in tandem with the high number of other PBSA developments in the locality, this proposal looks set to impose an added burden on the resilience of the neighbourhood.

This burden is cast in respect of the shifting balance of the neighbourhood's mixed community sense of 'place' (where PBSA is now a dominant characteristic) and in terms of its 'amenity', in particular the likely adverse impact on local health and social welfare service provision.

We have no indication of planned reinforcement of essential service provision as student residence numbers continue to expand in the locality.

While apparently outside the consideration of this planning application on its own, there has to be a channel where such concerns can be expressed.

We also stand with a number of other commentators in questioning the robustness now of the (high-end) PBSA development model in the city and so the consequences of serious setback." (GPCC Secretary)

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25 Sep: CEC Planning publishes new Design Guidance

New non-statutory planning guidance to support the policies on City Plan 2030 and National Planning Framework 4 is now live. The new suite is of fundamental importance in considering planning applications and developments.

From the CEC Planning Team:

Edinburgh Design Guidance – this should be used for the planning and design of new development proposals and for street design.

Guidance for Householders  - this is for people considering altering or extending their home, and for professionals involved in the application process.

Guidance for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas – this is for anyone considering repairing, altering or extending a listed building or an unlisted building in a conservation area.

Student Accommodation Guidance – this is for professionals and developers involved in the provision of purpose-built student accommodation including new build, change of use and conversion.

Developer Contributions and Infrastructure Delivery Guidance – this will be used to assist in assessing planning applications including the provisions to include legal agreements requiring contributions towards delivering infrastructure associated with development.

You can see all our Planning Guidance and Planning Quick Guides here

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8 Sep: Planning 25/04488/FUL: PBSA at 140 Causewayside, Edinburgh. Request for Consultation by GPCC

'The above application was registered with the Council on 1 September 2025.

I would be grateful for your views, in your capacity as a consultee, on this proposal.

Your comments on this proposal should be returned within 21 days of the date of this letter.

Details of the application can be viewed on the Planning Portal. If no comments are

forthcoming the Council will exercise its powers to determine the application as it stands, on

the information provided. Responses can be e-mailed to the case officer (please attach as a

word document).'

'If you wish to discuss this proposal please contact Julie Ross directly at

julie.ross@edinburgh.gov.uk .'

(www.edinburgh.gov.uk/planning)

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18 Jul: Planning 25/02904/FUL: PBSA at 27-29, 31 Ratcliffe Terrace and 4 South Grey Street, Edinburgh

Objection: Submitted by the Secretary to GPCC

1] CP 2030 Env 14: The development is completely surrounded by Conservation Areas (Craigmillar to the south, Grange to the west, and Blacket to the East. The proposals in toto do not respect the current built environment context and ignore the value of the local townscape place.

2] CP 2030 Env 3: The proposed demolition is the easy option. The opportunity to incorporate and enhance the existing and potential features of the (MacLeod and de Spiganovicz) redbrick building of careful Edwardian design (by way of conversion and restoration) is ignored. The building is ‘assessed to be of low importance’ (Planning Statement, Page 17). GPCC would dispute that.

3] CP 2030 Env 1: The proposed plans have no regard for the existing building context of the area. They would deliver a demonstrable and detrimental change to part of the site's worth existing architectural features and characteristics. This would serve to accelerate the change in locality appearance as well as locality resident make-up, to the damage of the area's setting, character and appearance. Positive public realm features (in the broad context of surrounding conservation areas) are jeopardised.

4] CP 2030: Inf 3; Re 5: There is implicit acknowledgement that the current pace of the PBSA model must be questioned. It is fair to call for a fresh ‘needs assessment’ in respect of PBSA. It is fair to ask for tangible reassurance that developer contribution recourse in respect of (healthcare) infrastructure delivery (CP 2030: Inf 3) is in play and is meaningfully impactful. It is fair to challenge ‘PBSA concentration’ against the detrimental impact to this local centre (CP 2030: Re 5).

5] CP2030: Hou 5 (S. 3.196) The Planning Statement for 25/02904/FUL explicitly pairs (Para 1.11) this planning submission with that for 25/02258/FUL, speaking of 'co-ordinated development' of 'blocks B and C' (02904) with 'block A' (02258). The development is part of a collaborative ‘strategy’ (Planning Statement, Page 19).

The declared site size for blocks B and C is 0.135 Ha. The declared site size for block A is 0.17 Ha. The proposal completes a de facto PBSA development with a site size of 0.305 Ha. There is no provision for a (required) mix of student accommodation and housing on a combined and integrated site setting that is in effect greater than 0.25 Ha. For practical purposes, this opportunistically contravenes LDP Hou 5. 

The pace of recent and proposed / pending developments in the Causewayside / Ratcliffe Terrace local area serves to deliver another concentrated ‘Pollock Halls’ (linear) community there (notwithstanding the withdrawal of measured ‘concentration ratios’ under new Edinburgh Design Guidance). That progressively shifts the existing community setting and serves to imbalance it.

We are persuaded by the Cockburn Association assessment that ‘the continued expansion of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) in this area lacks a robust, up-to-date student needs assessment and risks damaging the local housing mix and community balance’.

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24 June: City officers have been asked to explore options for a ban on controversial purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) projects, and present them to the city’s Planning Committee in September for a decision.

A majority of councillors backed the motion calling for a ban to be explored.

(Edinburgh Live)

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Demolition of existing buildings and erection of a purpose-built student accommodation with associated cycle parking, landscaping and access arrangements.

27 - 29, 31 Ratcliffe Terrace, 4 South Gray Street, Edinburgh

Ref. No: 25/02904/FUL | Received: Wed 04 Jun 2025 | Validated: Thu 12 Jun 2025 | Status: Awaiting Assessment

Last date for comments 18 July

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Application for a change of use from class 1A shop to class 3 restaurant with full cooking and all associated site works. 

50 - 52 Ratcliffe Terrace Newington Edinburgh EH9 1ST

Ref. No: 25/02938/FUL | Received: Thu 05 Jun 2025 | Validated: Thu 05 Jun 2025 | Status: Awaiting Assessment

Last date for comments 7 July

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Proposed demolition of existing buildings and erection of a mixed-use development comprising purpose-built student accommodation and ground floor commercial unit (classes 1A) with associated cycle parking, landscaping and access arrangements.

33 - 41 Ratcliffe Terrace Edinburgh EH9 1SX

Ref. No: 25/02258/FUL | Received: Thu 01 May 2025 | Validated: Tue 06 May 2025 | Status: Awaiting Assessment

Last date for comments 11 June

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Demolition of the existing building on site and erection of purpose-built student accommodation with associated works.

140 Causewayside Sciennes Edinburgh EH9 1PR

Ref. No: 25/02125/PAN | Received: Wed 23 Apr 2025 | Validated: Wed 23 Apr 2025 | Status: Consultation Approved

Public viewing of proposals at Newington Trinity Church on 17 July from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.