Flats plan approved at former Boroughmuir High School

Revised plans to transform a former Edinburgh high school into housing have been given the green light.The City of Edinburgh Council’s development management sub-committee granted CALA Homes permission for 104 flats to be built at the former Boroughmuir High School as well as a new tenement block next to the former school in Viewforth.Under the plans, there will be 17 affordable homes, 98 car parking spaces on the former playground and 223 cycle spaces.A ‘community sum’ paid by the developers will mean more affordable homes will be provided at another site.Initial plans for the tenement block, which will contain all the affordable homes, were rejected last year after which CALA reduced the block height from six to five stories and from 20 to 17 flats.Councillor Hal Osler was “deeply concerned” over the affordable housing proposals, which only include one and two-bedroom properties. But Cllr Joanna Mowat said the developers had responded to the initial proposals being rejected.The development will create 87 split-level apartments in the former school classroom block.Melanie Main, councillor for Morningside, wanted CALA to provide more on-site affordable housing as part of the scheme.