I thought the Bothwell Street scheme was a shoe-in. Maybe due to Lochend Butterfly development there is more 'sensitivity' to high density accommodation? I'm sure the developer will have another go. Frankly the current industrial units and away supporters urinal/"park" are an eyesore. So just about anything would be better than that...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » General Edinburgh
"DIY store to be demolished for student flats" (and other developments)
(385 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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My bad, it's still pending consideration, I had mis-read it as being declined. The only one that has been declined is that at St. Leonards Homebase.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
Over recent months, I have listened particularly to Southsiders about the scale of local development and I am pleased to have heard none of the starker “anti-student” language sometimes reported which wishes to create division between students and longer-term residents.
I’d like to offer a current example of how students and the community can enrich each other. A group of our students – working with pupils, parents, teachers and the Greenworks charity – has recently helped transform the playground of Preston Street Primary School by creating new outdoor furniture and play equipment. A project like this not only enables our students to put their studies into practice, but it breathes new life into an important amenity for local children.
"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Reminds me, my previous Leith Walk / Easter Road / Hillside / Abbeyhill summary missed out the development site next to Mcdonald Road Library (application granted) for 226 beds, the Shurbhill development has 247 (not 226), Murano Place (just off Albert Street) has 258 under construction and also the existing unit on McDonald Road at junction with Hopetoun Crecent for 95 beds.
So in summary, this area has 265 existing, recently built student bedrooms, 1,319 under construction and 333 out for planning approval. That would be near on 2,000 student bedrooms built in a period of 2 years.
Applications were withdrawn at some time after 2007 for 130 McDonald Road and also Baxter's Place by Unite Students.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"kingfisher to close 60 B&Q Stores"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32126970
I really hope that doesn't include Powderhall, as with Homebase at St. Leonards probably doomed, that would have hollowed out every single DIY store in the remotely centre of town to non-cycle friendly locations in out-of-town shopping parks. I include Homebase at Craigleith in this because access by bike is so dreadful despite how close it is to NEPN.
Posted 9 years ago # -
B & Q, Homebase, etc. closing in the centre of town surely opens up a nice wee niche in the market for an independent DIY store to open.
Can only be a good thing.
Free idea for a business opportunity.
Posted 9 years ago # -
" opens up a nice wee niche in the market for an independent DIY store to open."
Like Gray's of George Street?
Oh. Damn.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"
But it plans to open 60 new outlets under its Screwfix brand.
"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32126970 (same link as above)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Screwfix is like Argos though, you order online or off a catalogue and then a very disinterested and underpaid member of staff at the counter grudgingly brings you your order and asks you why you're ordering "just a bucket".
Posted 9 years ago # -
Whilst Screwfix usually just disinterestedly waft a hand in the direction of whatever 'offer' they're obliged to plug in the wee stand next to the card scanner when taking your order they sometimes do earnestly-helpful things like point out the imbalance in packaged quantities or sizes of nuts and bolts. I slightly prefer Toolstation, mostly as it doesn't have a cluttered storefront, allowing a bike to be propped in full view outside the window to avoid having to chain it up to one of the lampposts, given the absence of racks around there.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I've always just found myself taking my bike into Screwfix, as there really isn't anywhere to lock up, and I tend to order online so just need to pickup.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Just spotted, the council is running a consultation on student housing, which closes tomorrow. https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/sfc/studenthousing .
Posted 9 years ago # -
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Date of appeal decision: 1 June 2015Decision
I allow the appeal and grant planning permission subject to the 5 conditions listed at the end of the decision notice. Attention is drawn to the 4 advisory notes at the end of the notice.
"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Surprising that someone so eloquent and methodical in his approach then states:
"Local residents…state that [the Homebase store] is well used and profitable although I have no evidence in support of these claims. I have no indication as to whether the owners would continue trading even if the proposal was not built. If the trade exists in the area, the larger unit might also become a DIY store, albeit smaller in size."
'No evidence' and 'might' aren't really good enough if you're stating material considerations towards your case.
I do agree that the Homebase is incongruous with the architecture of St Leonards. So too is Scottish Widows, but at least it's brown and not bright green. Texas Homecare wasn't much better.
I think that B&Q at Hermiston Gait might become the only DIY store left with actual usable bicycle parking. Pretty sure the Warriston branch has none.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Pretty sure the Warriston branch has none.
No, none. Well, there's 2 wheelbenders mounted at dog-height which you can sort of use, most people seem to find a pole or something to lock up to.
Also, in their wisdom, B&Q have shut the Warriston-side access and fenced off a big compound to store gravel, slabs etc. This means you have to go in from the Logie Green/ Powderhall side, or go around the block if coming from the cycle path. It's niggling when cycling and downright inconvenient if walking from St. Mark's Park direction.
Homebase at Craigleith has no racks of its own, but there are a set of Sheffield stands outside the TK Maxx adjacent, opposite the odd perspex viewing windows into the garden department.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Also, in their wisdom, B&Q have shut the Warriston-side access and fenced off a big compound to store gravel, slabs etc."
I heard a rumour that this was because of people stealing things from the garden bit.
Craigleith's canopy-poles are just narrow enough for my D-lock to go through. See also the canopy-poles at B&Q Newcraighall.
Posted 9 years ago # -
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A CONTROVERSIAL student housing block will be built – despite being knocked back by the city council.The £30 million proposals for the site of the Homebase DIY store in St Leonard’s Street were rejected earlier this year.
Planning bosses said the proposed 579-bed unit would push the Southside’s student population above 61 per cent – twice the level recommended in city guidelines.
Developers appealed to the Scottish Government and its planning reporter has now ruled in their favour.
"
Posted 9 years ago # -
That is why CEC is more nervous than it should have to be about Planning decisions - cost of appeals etc.
Government bias in favour of developers could well be seen as 'undemocratic'. Certainly it helps undermine trust in LAs - either' they got the decision wrong in the first place' or 'can't protect wishes/interests of locals/city'!
Posted 9 years ago # -
Photo of the Castle O'Clouts pub that was on the site before Homebase.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34359416#2
(Worth clicking through the rest of the photos too. Good overhead shot of Haymarket showing the flour mill.)
Posted 9 years ago # -
student flats removes the housebuilders obligation to make social housing, or some other thing like that
Posted 9 years ago # -
The other afternoon while waiting for my bairns I wandered over the Abbeyhill Primary School playground, and had a gander at the new student accommodation building adjacent. Pretty quiet during school hours of course, though a small group of young people were emerging from a side entrance onto Abbeyhill as I approached.
The building is not as imposing as I feared. I was impressed by the cycle parking facilities: as well as standard Sheffield stands, there are covered bike shelters sporting double decker parking as seen at Waverley station. Quite a few bikes in evidence too. Will try to remember to take a few snaps next time I'm around that neck of the woods.
No sign of the promised new public steps from Abbeyhill to Abbeymount though: "in the pipeline"?
Posted 9 years ago # -
I can also confirm that the student accommodation at Shrubhill (opposite the end of Albert Street) appears to be fully occupied by students. Lots of lights on, folk visible at windows, etc. this evening. I hope the flats are well insulated, as all the retail units below are just empty shells at the moment, open to the street.JCBs etc. still onsite...
Clearly the demand is there. World still appears to be turning despite the new influx of residents so I guess it will all be fine.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Homebase St Leonards had their closing down sale last week; today I can't find them anymore on their store locator, so I guess that means they're now shut.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Big sheds on the outskirts of town that you need to drive to, thats the future.
Is the warriston B&Q still open? And if so, is that the only one "in town"?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Wickes on Stevenson Road.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Homebase at Craigleith - right next to the NEPN.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Depending on what you're after there are usually options - for paint and fillers you can go to Russell paints or Edina Paints for example. Lots of timber and builders yards have fixings, tools and of course timber and plasterboard etc - e.g. Jewsons on Ratcliffe Terrace or the ones in Longstone and Sighthill...
Posted 9 years ago # -
@algo - might be spending more money at Marchmont Hardware, thats our closest I imagine?
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Nelly - yes indeed - for very small tinkering jobs you can probably get what you need there, but it's not really a decent hardware shop like Murray's Tools was. I'd still support it when I can but if you're building something big then it's a very expensive way to buy screws unfortunately.
Posted 9 years ago #
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