Revised plans to demolish a popular Edinburgh sports bar and replace it with student accommodation have been submitted after previous proposals were thrown out by the Scottish Government.
Controversial plans to flatten Murrayfield Sports Bar on Westfield Road were last year refused due to flooding fears. Locals also said 87 student apartments would be “excessive” for the area.
Now, EH1 Students and Scott Hobbs Planning have returned with new plans to bulldoze the pub for 80 student beds, amenity space and landscaping at 20 Westfield Road.
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Gorgie and Dalry Community Council argued the area – which has seen several similar developments given planning permission the last few years – was “already saturated saturated with Purpose-Built Student Accommodation” (PBSA).
Independent councillor for Sighthill-Gorgie Ross McKenzie agreed there had been “too much student accommodation approved in recent years without proper scrutiny”.
The developer says it has returned with new proposals which “provide a design solution that will resolve the aforementioned reasons for refusal.” They also highlighted other that flooding fears, there were no other reasons for refusal.
The new plans include 80 student beds with associated amenity space and landscaping.
The revised development proposes 80 student beds across a six-storey building with the sixth floor set back from the site frontage. The proposed accommodation would be include 73 cluster flat rooms and seven studios.
The originals plans were refused due to the fact the site would flood in a 1 in 200 year climate event. Regardless of the low possibility, SEPA and the council’s flood team objected as the development could not demonstrate flood free access and egress.
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An alternative egress strategy has now been drawn up to allow future residents evacuate the site where the need and desire arises in the event of a severe flooding scenario. The alternative access leads to Westfield Court which is reportedly at higher ground level.
Cllr McKenzie previously said: “I’m delighted that this appeal has been dismissed.
“The area has seen too much student accommodation approved in recent years without proper scrutiny. In some cases, local councillors have actively pushed through developments against the recommendation of planning officers and in the face of strong local opposition. That has stopped now.
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“Since being elected, I have sought to represent the views of the local community, not the interests of student housing developers. I hope the outcome of this case will give residents hope that sharing their views on planning applications is a worthwhile exercise.”
Plans will once again be reviewed by council officers and can be viewed here.