35 flats in two blocks at 40 Fernieside Gardens, Moredun, Edinburgh

“Proposal: To deliver 2x flatted blocks comprising 35x units and associated landscaping whilst demolishing existing church and associated outbuildings (as amended)”

“Block A will front Fernieside Gardens and house nine 1-bed flats, five 2-bed flats and three 3-bed flats. Block B will sit to its rear and house eight 1-bed flats, six 2-bed flats and four 3-bed flats. Each are predominantly 4-storey except for a 3-storey pitched tiled roof section to the Fernieside Gardens elevation of Block A and a 3-storey flat roof section to the northeast elevation of Block B.”

“The site is the former St John Vianney's Roman Catholic Church and its associated hall and grounds.”

“The predominantly red brick church fronts Fernieside Gardens next to the only means of access. The separate rendered hall and a hardstanded car park sits to its rear with any land out with these built features generally being grass. The site slopes down from the southeast to the northwest but the gradient is steeper to the sites southeastern side.”

“Relevant Site History No relevant site history.”

“Pre-application discussions took place on this application.”

“Housing on this site is acceptable in principle as the proposals constitute a smaller scale opportunity within the urban area, which is effectively Edinburgh's 'settlement boundary', and since they comply with all relevant Development Plan policies as considered within this report on handling. There is no need for an agreed build-out timescale for a single phased development.”

“The proposals, subject to a legal agreement, comply with the relevant sections of LDP Policy Hou 1, Hou 2, Hou 3 and Inf 2, and NPF4 Policy 16.”

“Although 3 to 4-storeys would be out of character with the 2-storey which prevails nearby, this increased scale is acceptable as it will initially be achieved by a regrading of the site levels. When this is coupled with the topography of the surroundings, which means that dwellings to the east / south on Fernieside Gardens occupy a higher elevation, and the generously sized gardens of nearby properties, which means that suitable building separation distances will be…”

“Future occupiers will benefit from acceptable standards of internal and external amenity. The number of dual aspect units (28 of 35) and the floorspace of all exceed the minimum requirements of the Edinburgh Design Guidance (EDG). The private amenity space and all units will receive reasonable levels of natural light due to the degree of physical separation from nearby buildings and through the use of generously sized windows with Juliet balconies as denoted.”

“NAME: CEC Housing COMMENT: No objection subject to obligations via legal agreement DATE: February 2025”

“NAME: CEC Transport Planning COMMENT: No objection subject to conditions and / or informatives as appropriate DATE: May 2025”

“The development to which this permission relates must be begun not later than the expiration of three years beginning with the date on which this permission is granted. If development has not begun at the expiration of this period, the planning permission lapses.”

“− 35% of 35 units (12) in an affordable tenure; − A contribution of £133,326 (18 x £7,407) towards additional primary school capacity within sub-zone LG-2 of the Liberton / Gracemount Education Contribution Zone; − A contribution of £89,352 (18 x £4,964) towards additional secondary school capacity within sub-zone LG-2 of the Liberton / Gracemount Education Contribution Zone; − A contribution of £58,887.15 (35 x £1,682.49) towards additional healthcare capacity within…”

“24/05263/FUL - report by the Chief Planning Officer To GRANT planning permission, subject to the conditions, reasons, informatives and a legal agreement as set out in section C of the report by the Chief Planning Officer.”