Hundreds more student flats planned for Gorgie area of Edinburgh

Edinburgh looks set for more student flats after the sale of a site on the city’s Gorgie Road.

CGI image of new development on the Gorgie Road site, which previously housed several industrial units that have been demolished. The planning decision followed a successful appeal by S Harrison after the development was initially turned down by councillors.

York-based property firm S Harrison, which is behind several student developments and hotels in the capital, secured planning permission on the Gorgie Road site earlier this year for a major student accommodation scheme consisting of 248 bedrooms in two buildings.

It promises a range of amenities including study rooms, a games area, gym, cinema, laundry and secure cycle storage.

The development site has now been sold to Watkin Jones for an undisclosed sum.

David Clancy, development director at S Harrison, said: “Watkins Jones is one of the most reputable names in the student accommodation sector.

“This sale demonstrates the strength of the student market in Edinburgh and the quality of this site, which is close to several Edinburgh Napier University buildings, the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, as well as having public transport links on the doorstep.”

Since 1999, Watkin Jones has delivered more than 41,000 student beds across 123 dedicated sites. The company is currently working on several schemes in Edinburgh, including a 216-bed student scheme in Dundee Street.

The Gorgie Road site previously housed several industrial units that have been demolished. The planning decision followed a successful appeal by S Harrison after the development was initially turned down by councillors.

Alex Pease, chief investment officer at Watkin Jones, said: “Gorgie Road is located in a good location in a city where there’s a strong demand for high quality student accommodation.

“The scheme, which will open in 2022, further strengthens our nationwide pipeline of student and build-to-rent sites.”

S Harrison said it had made “significant” investment in Edinburgh in recent years and was currently exploring further opportunities across the Central Belt.

The company’s pipeline in Scotland includes another student accommodation scheme that will offer 394-bedrooms, on the corner of Westfield Road and Westfield Avenue, close to Murrayfield Stadium. It has also been given planning permission for a new hotel on Osborne Terrace that will see a 1970s office building transformed into a 157-bedroom hotel, with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor.

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