February 1 2024

Square & Crescent have returned to their proposed revitalisation of a redundant Edinburgh office block with a change of use amendment to their prior consent.

Reflecting shifting accommodation demands in the city the latest proposal replaces planned flexible working space and private apartments at Finance House with student accommodation - while otherwise leaving the rest of the scheme unchanged.

Working within the bounds of the existing consent the changes would be limited to the interior of the building, with all other aspects of the project such as a new build rear residential element remaining as before.

The changes are being implemented by Morgan Architects, who wrote: "The proposal would involve the change of use and internal alterations to the layout of the consented Finance House building in the same form, scale and massing as previously approved, but for a student accommodation use with principal access from Orchard Brae...

"The proposal will retain the consented landscaped amenity and play space for neighbours and future residents, as well as the accessible pedestrian/cyclist connection from Learmonth Gardens to Orchard Brae and a new street connection from Learmonth Gardens to Learmonth Crescent."

A public consultation is scheduled to take place on 8 February between 15:00 and 19:00 at St Ninian’s Episcopal Church, Comely Bank.  

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