Edinburgh Planning Guidance

Student Housing
Objective
This guideline is supplementary to Edinburgh City Local Plan Policy Hou 10 Student Housing. The policy states: Planning permission will be granted for purpose-built student accommodation where: a) the location is appropriate in terms of access to public transport and university and college facilities; and b) the proposal will not result in an excessive concentration of student accommodation in any one locality

General
The Council recognises the important contribution that higher education makes to the city. One of the core aims of the Edinburgh City Local Plan is to, support the growth of the city as centre of learning and higher education. The number of students studying in higher and further education in Edinburgh grew by approximately 20,000 between 2002 an 2009. The amount of bedspaces granted planning permission for purpose built student accommodation has not kept pace with this rate. Between 2002-2009 a total of 2,900 bedspaces were granted within Edinburgh, (not counting 1500 bedspaces at Queen Margaret University campus in East Lothian). This increase in student population and the lack of purpose built accommodation has led to a continuing tendency for students to concentrate in HMOs in central tenement areas. It is recognised that the high student population in such areas can bring benets, for example in supporting local services. However, the trend has lead to the loss of family housing resulting in: ----Increased HMOs Less stable communities A rapid turnover of population Properties left vacant for extended periods in the summer

Approved February 2010

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There is a need for more purpose-built student housing and it is preferable that student needs are met as far as possible in purpose built and managed schemes. Such developments help: --Decrease the widespread conversion and use of family housing stock. Decrease the need for travel with students located on or adjacent to campuses.

The average size of proposals for student accommodation in Edinburgh is 140 bedspaces ranging from 14 to 340. Generally higher densities are welcomed provided that they are satisfactorily integrated into surrounding areas.

Locational Guidance
The criteria in ECLP Policy Hou 10 will be applied to proposals for student housing using the locational guidance set out below. The guidance will not be applied in isolation and consideration must be given to site characteristics and other matters addressed in the local plan such as design, conservation and parking. -In and adjacent to main campuses further student housing will generally be acceptable. In other locations with good access to university and college facilities by public transport or by walking or cycling, purpose built student housing will be acceptable provided it will not result in a student population of 30% or more in the locality (data zone). Elsewhere student housing will generally not be permitted.

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Map 1 identies the main university and college campuses where it is deemed that further student housing would be acceptable in principle. Maps 2 and 3 uses 2001 census data to show full time students (aged 16 or over) as a percentage of the total population. These are split into data zones which are xed small areas, created from 2001 Census Output Areas, which avoid homogeneity and condentiality issues.

Assessment Information
Proposals should be accompanied by a planning statement justifying the suitability of the location for student housing. This applies to all proposals except those within the identied campuses on Map 1. Such statements should set out the capacity of existing and planned development in both the data zone the proposal is located in and the adjoining data zones. This should include: -Student accommodation either completed, under construction, pending determination or in the pre-application process.

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Local plan housing allocations or existing development framework/brief aspirations Other housing development or proposals including the loss of housing to other uses

To aid in this assessment the Council holds the following available information: --Population gures for each data zone. A schedule of planning applications for student accommodation. This includes information on applications from 2002, their status (i.e. proposal of application notice pending consideration, granted) and if permission has been implemented. Housing land audit - includes housing sites under construction, sites with planning consent for housing, sites in adopted local plans and where appropriate, other buildings and land with agreed potential for housing development.

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The 2001 census data showing students as a percentage of the total population should be used as a starting point. The analysis of the above information can then be used to assess the likely number of students within the overall population.

Map 1: Location of University/College Campuses

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Map 2: Student Census

Map 3: Student Census

For further details contact: Head of Planning, The City of Edinburgh Council, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh, EH8 8BJ. Tel: 0131 529 3571 Fax: 0131 529 6207 Email: planning@edinburgh.gov.uk

Produced by the City Development Department : Planning - October 2010