Plans go in for derelict Edinburgh site

A planning application has been submitted for student accommodation to regenerate a former Edinburgh school that is in a state of disrepair after lying vacant for over a decade.S1 Developments has submitted the application for the former site of Tynecastle High School. Restoration of the original Category B-listed school building, designed by John Alexander Carfrae, forms an integral part of the proposals.Charities Love Gorgie Farm and People Know How have also been revealed as preferred operators for community facilities on the site should planning permission be granted. The urban farm will operate an extensive community garden while People Know How, which already works with Tynecastle High School, will operate a community facility within the building.The original school hall will be repurposed as a central amenity hub, sitting within a collegiate-style courtyard space and providing shared facilities for student residents. The landscaping proposals increase green space across the site by more than 40 per cent, helping to increase biodiversity within the local area.The development has been designed to be sustainable with zero parking, 100 per cent cycle parking, the employment of low-carbon technologies and no use of fossil fuels.Council guidance points to the benefits of purpose-built student accommodation in freeing up traditional housing stock for families with children and it has been estimated that a development such as this could release up to 180 properties back into the housing market. Local businesses will also benefit through increased spending from student residents, said the developer.