Redevelopment

This is an update regarding the 1960s-era commercial properties at 56 Saughton Mains Gardens.

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A Livingston-based property developer had submitted plans to demolish the 1960s-era commercial properties at 56 Saughton Mains Gardens and replace them with a set of 12 one-bedroom apartments, 23 two-bedroom apartments and three three-bedroom apartments, together with class one retail units and a hot food takeaway store.

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However, the plans to redevelop a set of rundown and underused buildings was shot down by the City of Edinburgh Council in September 2020, despite the developer describing the current site as a ‘blight’ on the neighbourhood.

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The Council planning officers also produced a report ahead of the meeting, outlining their recommendation for refusal.

It stated: “The proposal represents a poor quality design response to the site and local context, by virtue of its siting, layout, height, form, scale, proportions, material finishes, architectural detailing, design of private greenspace, public realm and landscaping.

There are concerns regarding the quality of amenity for future residents including the large proportion of single aspect flats, level and nature of private greenspace and operation of commercial retail space at ground floor level. The design proposals are weakly developed detail for a scheme of this scale and nature.

A noise assessment and affordable housing statement have not been provided and given the broader issues relating to design, amended information has not been requested from the applicant.”

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We will monitor for any new potential planning applications, alert the local community, and encourage locals to submit their own views and comments as we believe the more local voices are heard, the better. This way, we can push back against student developments, STLs (short-term lets) with no planning permission, and instead preserve green spaces and push for more affordable homes.