Alumno wants to build a seven-story block on the corner of Restalrig Road South and London Road. It would have 191 student bedrooms with commercial space and communal facilities on the ground floor.
Alumno says that the constrained nature of the site on a busy main arterial route makes it well suited to student accommodation. Existing businesses on the site have agreed to sell up as current facilities are no longer commercially viable, the developer said.
The development will have just two car parking spaces, one of which will be for blue badge holders only.
Following public consultation, several design changes were made before the planning application went in to the City of Edinburgh Council. The building is shorter than originally anticipated by reducing it from eight to seven storeys and by reducing ceiling heights on each storey.
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The commercial area offering has been increased, with additional provision for an outdoor terraced area. The proposed commercial space will include what is being called “community local food and drink use” – replacing the existing Limelite public house, but under the same ownership.
Alumno founder David Campbell said: “This exciting mixed-use scheme will serve to ease the acute housing pressures by providing greater options whilst, addressing the increasing and well documented, student housing demand by providing modern, high quality and well managed accommodation.
“We have listened to the responses of the local community through our thorough consultation process and have reduced the height of the building to accommodate this feedback.
“Employment and investment will be generated both during construction and once complete, increasing footfall to local shops and also serving to provide a new sustainable food/drink outlet for the community, including outdoor space. We are committed to being a good neighbour and believe our plans will make the best and most positive impact on what is a highly constrained and challenging urban site.”
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