New student flats set for former Scottish Law Commission office.

Plans are in motion to demolish a 1960s office building in Edinburgh to make way for a student residential development, which is set to be approved soon. Balfour Beatty Investments, a company owned by Balfour Beatty, submitted an application last year to build nearly 200 student flats on the grounds of the former Scottish Law Commission building at 140 Causewayside.

The project, designed by jmarchitects, will offer a mix of studio and cluster apartments to cater to the increasing demand for student accommodation in the capital city. According to Balfour Beatty, the site at Causewayside is an ideal location for Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) due to its proximity to educational institutions, active travel options, and public transport services.

Highlighting the benefits of the development, Balfour Beatty stated in their application: “This exciting proposal will rejuvenate the current site and is led by a developer with a proven track record in the city, including the successful delivery of an award-winning postgraduate student scheme at Holyrood for the University of Edinburgh.”

Edinburgh planning officials also expressed support for the project, stating that it would positively contribute to the city’s student accommodation landscape and align with the principles of sustainable urban growth and 20-minute neighbourhoods. They noted that the impact on listed buildings, conservation areas, and the overall townscape had been thoroughly evaluated and deemed acceptable.

In a report scheduled to be presented to councillors at an upcoming meeting, the officials reiterated the positive impact of the development on higher education accommodation in the city. They reiterated that the proposal is in line with the development plan’s focus on sustainable urban growth and the creation of neighbourhoods that are designed to be walkable and self-sufficient.

The site, which previously housed the Causewayside School before its demolition in 1966, will undergo a transformation with the new student accommodation. The Scottish Law Commission, the former occupant of the building, has since relocated to Parliament Square.