UNITE acquires prominent Edinburgh development site
February 18 2014
The plans entail refurbishment of an existing 8,000sq/ft retail outlet, together with a five-storey building housing shared flats with communal living and kitchen spaces and self-contained studios and follows on from the recent acquisition of plots in Aberdeen and Newcastle.
Richard Simpson, managing director of property for UNITE said: “There are 41,000 full time students seeking accommodation in Edinburgh with only 12,500 corporate and university bed spaces available. This structural shortage and the strong central location of this site mean the property is well located for University of Edinburgh students and will also appeal to students from other Edinburgh institutions such as Napier University, Herriot Watt University and Queen Margaret University.”
Subject to planning and funding agreements the property could be ready in time for the 2016/17 academic year.
3 Comments
#1 Posted by CADMonkey on 18 Feb 2014 at 12:26 PM
So much for City of Edinburgh Council student density policy which now seems utterly meaningless. Especially given recent developments/proposals at next door at Deaconess and Bernard Terrace in an area that is already according to CEC "over populated" with students.
#2 Posted by Robert on 18 Feb 2014 at 13:06 PM
The assumption seems to be that the majority of students want to live in serviced rooms. I am sure that thousands are much happier renting flats or rooms from private landlords as I did when I was a student. Most people I knew were desperate to get out of halls after first year.
#3 Posted by Robert on 18 Feb 2014 at 13:09 PM
How did it come to be that the majority of new building work in central Edinburgh seems to be either Premier Inns or Unite student housing??? As if proof was needed that things are in a bad way...
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