Scotmid submits Edinburgh retail and student accommodation plans

Scotmid Co-operative has teamed up with developer and operator Structured House Group to jointly submit a planning application for a mixed-use proposal on the site of the existing Scotmid store at 236 Gorgie Road in Edinburgh.Plans include a community convenience food store which Scotmid will continue to operate and 152 student apartments and management suite to be operated on an ongoing basis by Structured House Group’s in-house property management-arm BOHO.The Scotmid store will have a fully glazed frontage and the sales area will have a modern feel. It will incorporate new state-of-the-art refrigeration cabinets run on CO2 refrigerant, the latest energy-saving technologies, as well as a new style counter arrangement.The managed student accommodation will include a mixture of studio and cluster type apartments and all will be equipped with en suites as well as a laundry, 100% cycle storage, and amenity space.Manson Architects has worked closely with the applicants to develop a mixed-use proposal which it said will give the heart of Gorgie a new and refreshing development that will provide a boost to the local area.The proposed development is scheduled to be completed by 2020 however it is hoped the new Scotmid store will be open and trading before the end of 2019.While the development work is carried out, Scotmid staff at Gorgie Road will be reassigned to neighbouring stores.A Proposal of Application Notice (PoAN) was lodged to City of Edinburgh Council in late February and a public consultation event was held at Tynecastle Stadium over two days at the end of March, which members of the local community attended.In addition to the public consultation, the applicants consulted with Gorgie/Dalry Community Council, City of Edinburgh Council, Police Scotland, Health and Safety Executive, Edinburgh Urban Design Panel, and Councillors Graczyk and Fullerton to ensure the proposals took into consideration stakeholders’ views.The plans are available to view via the Edinburgh Council website.