Public consulted on student flat plans for former Tynecastle school site

S1 Developments is giving the public a chance to have its say on proposals for a new student residential development at Edinburgh’s former Tynecastle High School site.The development will regenerate a site that has lain vacant for over a decade and fallen into a state of disrepair.An assessment has been undertaken by S1 and due to a number of constraints, the best use of the site is judged to be for student development, with the original category B-listed school building on McLeod Street retained and restored.Proximity to North British Distillery, who previously owned the site, Tynecastle Stadium and the Western Approach road – with issues around light, smell, noise and traffic – make student accommodation a more effective use of the site than residential accommodation, according to S1.It explained that a single user operator is able introduce control measures that will ensure that safety can be maintained, with issues such as noise, smells and air quality easier to mitigate via a single point of control – ventilation system and acoustic design.S1 stated that it could also install green energy provision under the control of a Building Energy Management System to minimise energy consumption and improve sustainability.Council guidance also points to the benefits of purpose-built student accommodation in freeing up flats for families with children and reducing issues of antisocial behaviour.The developer submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to the City of Edinburgh Council in February, informing that it intends to submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the site following a public consultation event.Full details about the proposals will be made available to the public on 18 May. An online consultation will take place between 3pm and 7pm on the same day.S1 Developments is progressing the development as Tynecastle Teague. It is a family business, owned by Edinburgh born brothers Dan and Shane Teague.