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Student homes complex approved at fourth try

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Published Date: 25 April 2008
A NEW student housing complex overlooking the Meadows has been approved by councillors at the fourth time of asking.
Members of the city's planning committee have agreed to grant permission for the scheme, which will see the Unite Group create rooms for around 250 students on the former NCP car park by the old Royal Infirmary.

The plans had caused concern among
community leaders and residents, who said that there was already "over-provision" of student accommodation in the area.

The proposals had been stalled by councillors on three occasions to carry out visits to the site and evaluate the impact the flats would have. But after Unite made changes to the scheme to alleviate fears of overshadowing neighbouring properties, it was given the go-ahead.

The site had been owned by NHS Lothian, which is now expected to receive £8.5 million from the student housing firm for the land.

Roy Durie, NHS Lothian's property consultant, said the decision meant the money would be reinvested in health services across the Lothians.

He added the scheme would also provide "desperately needed" student accommodation in the city, as well as transforming an undeveloped central site.

Unite, which is the UK's biggest provider of student homes, had previously had a separate plan for a complex at McDonald Road turned down by the council.





The full article contains 228 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 April 2008 10:25 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Students in Edinburgh
 
1

Jayess,

Edinburgh 25/04/2008 17:06:33
Roy Durie, NHS Lothian's property consultant, added that ... "The scheme would also provide desperately needed student accommodation in the city, as well as transforming an undeveloped central site." ... While pocketing £8.5M for his employer, and sod the crying need for afordable housing in the city centre.

Our crafty councillors of all political tints are seemingly pursuing a policy for squeezing families out of the city centre with this sort of decision. They are favouring transitory populations of dominantly young people, who are far to busy frolicking and fornicating, to bother themselves with such matters as what constitutes sustainable communities. They will be moving on soon anyway.

Of course we need accomodation for students, but must it be so concentrated as to distort the infrastructure of the area, so that the pubs and cafes become student refectories, most shops sell pre-packed junk food, there's no need for corner-shops or handy-stores, and no one notices if the municipal services are minimal?

How about filling these flats with geriatrics such as myself, but leaving room for a few students to move in and share our facilities?
2

,

25/04/2008 22:09:23
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
3

Parsley Flowers,

Edinburgh 25/04/2008 23:21:21
#1 - nothing to do with crafty councilors!

Get your facts straight: Local and National policy supports the creation of purpose built student accommodation as a way of taking away pressure from affordable housing. I know, because I am a frolicking and fornicating Town Planning Student! (well - wish I could frollick and fornincate a bit more - but I have to study for my exams so that I can get a job and pat taxes so that YOU can go to the geriatric home you so wish for! and no, it wont be full of female sirens to be at your beck and call!

Take your protest to the University and tell them to stop recruiting more and more graduates OR build more Halls on their own land. Do you expect students to go and live in Granton or wherever and then have to drive into town? - being able to walk to Uni is one of the great 'sustainable' things about coming to Edinburgh

Are you a bit sad that you can't frollick and fornicate?- I did not know that we had become a Calvinist State!

Looks also like a bloody good deal for the NHS - is this not the money they required to build a Health Centre in Westerhailes for the 'regular' non student people in Edinburgh?
4

(-_-),

Tollcross, Edinburgh 25/04/2008 23:32:35
Little boxes, little boxes, all made out of ticky tacky. Where have I heard that before.
Why should we pile all the students into little boxes at huge rents.
Welcome to rip-off Edinburgh.
The councillors should talk to students and ask them what sort of accommodation they would prefer to live in.
{*_*}
5

Parsley Flowers,

Edinburgh 25/04/2008 23:44:33
#4 - most of the people I study with want to stay in the City Centre, and because we are already in debt, quite frankly, living somewhere nice and paying a bit more for comfort is the least of our problems.

I wasn't old enough to vote this Government and obviously the ones that brought loans in - my parents had full grants and housing benefit in their time!

Yes - Edinburgh is VERY expensive compared to Dundee for example, but it is so much better and I wont be going back to Dundee to work and hope to stay here!

To answer you point - and I signed the petition against HMO restrictions - we want to live as close as possible to Uni and preferably in Marchmont/Meadows/New Town. And sorry to upset you, but a few friends of mine stay with Unite near the Art College, and they are pretty darn swanky flat and far from ticky tacky! - have you seen them?

Sorry if that is not what you want to hear - and I wish the Council DID come and speak to us and find out what we want.
6

(-_-),

Tollcross, Edinburgh 26/04/2008 01:29:02
#5 To answer your question. Yes, I have been inside the new Portsburgh development in Lady Lawson Street. Just give it time and see what it is like in a few years.
I am not upset, I am only glad to get a response. I must be listening to the wrong students.
Having worked in Dundee I agree Edinburgh is far better.
Thank you for your response.
{*_*}
7

Gordon lying traitor scum,

26/04/2008 09:01:39
Outspoken Arizona Senator Questions 9/11 Official Version Of Events

State Sen. Karen Johnson, R-Mesa, has come under fierce criticism for going on record with her doubts over the government's version of events surrounding the 9/11 attacks. Following a vote in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Arizona's 9/11 Memorial, Johnson told Capitol reporters "There are many of us that believe there's been a cover-up."
8

Parsley Flowers,

Edinburgh 26/04/2008 09:23:15
#6 - thank you for your response too. You sound like a reasonable person.

 

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