March 15 2024

Proposals have been made to demolish a turn of the century garage at Ratcliffe Terrace in the Newington district of Edinburgh in order to replace it with 59 student bedrooms.

Kenneth Reid Architects, acting on behalf of SDR Property Developments, will build out the narrow plot to its full depth by building two separate blocks connected by a glazed first floor bridge.

Finished in buff multi brick, red zinc and curtain walling the infill development is broken up by courtyards and lightwells to draw light and air to the interior.

In a concept statement the architects wrote: "The site itself is anomalous being a three storey detached building presented to the street, with light industrial on one side (and to the rear) and car parking on the south side. Effectively a gap in the predominantly residential tenement form on the rest of Ratcliffe Terrace.

"The concept is to deliver student residential, which remains a much needed commodity in Edinburgh, on this narrow site which adds to the streetscape with the understanding that the light industrial/car parking uses either side will in the future be taken for residential."

The development extends a gradual transition of industrial and workshop sites in the vicinity for residential use.

17 Comments

#1 Posted by The Heart of Saturday Night on 15 Mar 2024 at 10:17 AM

Probably want to get that subsidence sorted out before you do anything else.

Or hire a visualiser who understands perspective.

#2 Posted by Steve Jobs on 15 Mar 2024 at 10:24 AM

@UR - pretty sure the planning link is incorrect

#3 Posted by Bob Smith on 15 Mar 2024 at 10:37 AM

#Boke ...... a new low, even for Student Residences

#4 Posted by UR on 15 Mar 2024 at 10:39 AM

@3 sorry, that's us pointing the right way now.

#5 Posted by TheFakeArchitect on 15 Mar 2024 at 10:57 AM

Why on earth have they opted for a horizontal window pattern? I though this was a refurb when I first looked at it.

#6 Posted by Neil on 15 Mar 2024 at 11:34 AM

That is very bad!

#7 Posted by Bob Jones on 15 Mar 2024 at 11:41 AM

Hideous.
That building could make an interesting attractive conversion.
If they build that monstrosity it’ll set a precedence and before you know it the Jewsons and other neighbouring sites will be more of the same

#8 Posted by Edinburrggghhh deserves better on 15 Mar 2024 at 12:02 PM

Oh dear. Newington was a mixed setting; until all the business premises were knocked down for more student flats. There will be nothing left but copycat, block based anonymous units with the context of the city lost, all for students and tourists.

#9 Posted by Ben on 15 Mar 2024 at 15:41 PM

Quite prossibly the worst proposal to see the light of day in Scotland in recent years.

#10 Posted by Bonvivant on 15 Mar 2024 at 17:01 PM

I'm not often moved to comment on here, but that must be the worst looking proposal I've seen in many a year. Having looked at the architect's submitted drawings, you would think that their streetscape 'before and after' drawing would have made them feel the need to try again.

#11 Posted by Richard Scothorne on 16 Mar 2024 at 10:24 AM

The current building is a real gem on Ratcliffe Terrace - elegant, distinctive, some lovely detailing and remarkably original. A surprising and delightful survivor which makes it more precious. Bob Jones is right - really intriguing opportunity to convert. But this proposal is dire in every way - scale, bulk, massing, horizontal pattern, mishmash of materials. As Bonvivant says, the streetscape before and after says it all. Please submit objections!

#12 Posted by Scott glanville on 17 Mar 2024 at 20:47 PM

Another attractive historical building being demolished? This is our city and bit by bit little parts of the city's story are being eroded away in the name of profit although the site is in need of development demolishing a building that can and should be renovated and incorporated into any development is a must the new proposed building is hideous and pretty much recreating the same mistakes as the 1960s also the site is of no benefit to the wider community

#13 Posted by NIMFBY on 18 Mar 2024 at 13:04 PM

In slight defense of this development, the height aligns with other 4 storey + roof properties to the North and South of this on Ratcliffe Terrace. The existing building and the Jewsons sit a lot lower and they're abovious locations where development can be intesified to house more people within the City.
I can't comment on anything else positive on the design. The isolation of it in the streetscape elevations are dreadful, and the elevation treatment is woeful. If they do get Planning, hopefully it's sold to a serious team with better design acumen as many of their other student housing projects seem to have done.

#14 Posted by When is a room a cupboard? on 18 Mar 2024 at 15:45 PM

Hmmm... At pains to understand the stack of rooms on the north east corner shown without a window, both in plan and elevation? Other than that, it's a cute wee building that this proposes to demolish. I'd advise them to rip up the elevations and start again, this time with some thought put into it.

#15 Posted by Starving Students on 18 Mar 2024 at 16:33 PM

@14 There also doesn't appear to be any kitchen facilities provided. It's a baffling set of plans

#16 Posted by Annie Malone on 18 Mar 2024 at 18:50 PM

This is utterly grim

#17 Posted by Rankielass on 21 Mar 2024 at 14:20 PM

These schemes just get worse and worse. How any architect could look at the existing building and think this is a suitable replacement I have no idea. It is possible to say no to clients.

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