Temporary festival venue at Proposed Temporary Festival Venue 30 Metres East Of 60 Pleasance Edinburgh

“Proposal: Temporary siting of performance venues, catering units, bars, and other associated moveable structures for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, recurring on an annual basis for a minimum period of three years.”

“The proposals include a number of temporary structures within the external spaces of the Pleasance Courtyard, including performance venues, catering units, bars, storage, toilets, and associated facilities.”

“The site is surrounded by Category B and C listed buildings, utilised mostly by the University and Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA). These are listed below:”

“The application site lies within the City Centre and partially within the South Side Conservation Area.”

“25/01546/FUL Proposed Temporary Festival Venue 30 Metres East Of 60 Pleasance Edinburgh The temporary siting of performance venues, catering units, bars, and other associated moveable structures for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, recurring on an annual basis for a minimum of three years. Granted 18 June 2025”

“The site has been operating as a Festival Venue for numerous years, however the venue has only sought planning permission within the last few years due to an internal review of all the Festival Venues across the City, and whether or not they fall within the realms of permitted development. The Festival Venue at Pleasance was considered not to fall within the realms of permitted development due to the use of land being within the curtilage of a building.”

“On balance, these benefits, which are significant material considerations, outweigh the temporary adverse impact that the proposal will have on the setting of the listed buildings and provide reasoned justification for granting planning permission for the proposed development on the site.”

“The proposal would have a minor temporary adverse impact on the setting of the surrounding listed buildings. As the proposal is temporary and the development is not permanent it is therefore acceptable with regard to section 59(1) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.”

“Overall, the proposal will not have an adverse impact on the character or appearance of the South Side Conservation Area and therefore is acceptable with regard to Section 64 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.”

“A Tree Survey Report and Tree Protection Plan were submitted in support of the application. The survey area consists of the five trees within the proposed site, all of which are graded as Category B, consisting of mature and early mature trees. The Tree Survey confirms that all of the trees are in normal health with moderate structural condition. No trees require removal as part of this proposal.”

“NAME: Environmental Protection COMMENT: Unable to support the application but have recommended conditions should the application be approved. DATE: May 2026”

“NAME: Southside Community Council COMMENT: Southside Community Council (SCC) supports the continued operation of the Pleasance Courtyard as a temporary Edinburgh Festival Fringe venue. We recognise the significant cultural and economic contribution of the Fringe to Edinburgh and the established role the Pleasance Courtyard has played since 1985.”

“A total of four representations were received and are summarised below:”

“- support the acceptability in principle; - welcomes the extensive community engagement and operational improvements; - impacts on residential amenity continue to require active management; - stronger integration with public realm required; - improved visual coherence of temporary structures required; - concerns with noise impacting surrounding residential amenity; - delivery vehicle noise impacting on amenity; - proposed noise will not meet NR15; - proposal wholly…”

“26/01170/FUL To GRANT planning permission subject to the conditions, reasons, and informatives as set out in section C of the report by the Chief Planning Officer subject to: 1) an additional condition to read “The applicant submit details of accessible toilet facilities for the approval of the Council, as planning…”

“Decision authority, including existing facilities, prior the temporary use being taken up and for such facilities to be made available during the duration of the temporary use hereby approved. In order to comply with the equal opportunities requirements contained in section 270B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997”.”

“Hours of deliveries and collections, including waste collections, shall be restricted to 07:00 - 22:00 daily.”

“Prior to the development herby approved becoming operational, the acoustic barriers to the rear of The Grand and The Green venues (as illustrated on Drawing ref. Site Plan - Acoustic Panels, highlighted in green) shall be erected to a minimum height of 2.0m providing a minimum weighted sound reduction index of Rw $4 32 dB, in accordance with the manufacturer's specification as set out in the Sound Management Plan (ref.”