Your community needs you!

In July 2022 an application was made build a 6-storey student accommodation block on Eyre Place Lane. This was met with huge opposition (almost 400 objections) from the local community which received public support from many local organisations, businesses and politicians, and local newspaper and TV coverage. It’s obvious to many that this narrow plot of land is unsuitable for such a large, commercial building which will have many negative impacts for the community. Despite the strength of community opposition, the Council’s Planning Dept recommended that planning permission be granted, and the final decision was set to go to a public hearing, with a decision to be made by local councillors.

However, the developer didn’t fancy their chances with our democratically-elected representatives, and chose to pull a fast one and appeal directly to the Scottish Government for a decision. Rather than trying to convince a panel of Councillors to impose this building on the community, they calculated they had a better chance of convincing one government lawyer to approve this scheme.

Now the same developer is back with a new proposal, minimally scaled down from 142 student flats to 139 units. The new design is one storey lower, but is still much taller than any building that has ever stood on this quiet mews lane.

The new design is also longer, with a larger footprint than the previous proposal. And the controversial noisy roof terraces? They’ve added another one to make sure any noise is shared at both ends of the building. None of the issues flagged by the Scottish Government Reporter have been addressed with any real substance.

It’s the same developer working very closely with the same planning case officer who recommended approving the previous design, so we’re fully expecting the Planning Dept to make the same recommendation.