Retrospective short-term let at 1 Coinyie-house Close, Edinburgh
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Edinburgh Development Management Sub-Committee on 13 May 2026.
What was proposed
Retrospective permission was sought to change a ground-floor office unit into a short-term let, without external or internal alterations.
“Proposal: Retrospective change of use from office to short term let (sui generis).”
“Planning permission is sought for a retrospective change of use from office to a short term let (sui generis). No external or internal alterations are proposed.”
Officer report
The site
The approximately 60-square-metre unit is in a listed four-storey tenement beside a residential courtyard and narrow access vennel.
“The application property is a ground-floor unit, approximately 60 square metres, within a four-storey 19th century tenement block. The unit comprises a double bedroom, a bathroom, and open planned kitchen and living space. It has a private entrance door onto Coinyie House Close.”
“A large courtyard area lies between the properties at Coinyie House Close and Blackfriars Street to the west. The courtyard is fairly secluded, surrounded by tenement blocks on three sides and secured by gated pavement entrances. The properties adjacent to the courtyard are residential.”
Officer report
Earlier applications
Earlier permissions covered conversion to two dwellings, while a certificate for existing short-term-let use was refused and its appeal dismissed.
“18/04546/FUL | 1 Coinyie House Close | Conversion of existing office/stores into 2 dwellings, restoration of 2 windows on south gable. | Granted 14 November 2018.”
“23/04373/CLESTL | Application for a certificate of lawfulness of existing use for a short term let. | 1 Coinyie House Close | Refused 27 June 2024 | Subsequently appealed to The Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA). The appeal was dismissed on 12 December 2024 (DPEA appeal reference: CLUD-230- 2162).”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended refusal because short-term-let activity and servicing would significantly harm nearby residents’ living conditions and amenity.
“LDP Policy Hou 6 (Inappropriate Uses in Residential Areas), seeks to protect residential amenity. The policy states that developments, including change of use, which would have a materially detrimental effect on the living conditions of nearby residents, will not be permitted.”
“As a result, the activity and noise generated by the proposed STL use would be significantly different from what nearby residents might reasonably expect, particularly in the evening and at night, and consequently will have a significant detrimental effect on their living conditions and amenity.”
Officer report
The committee’s decision
Planning permission was refused for the retrospective change of use from office to short-term let.
“25/01792/FULSTL - Report by the Chief Planning Officer To REFUSE planning permission for the reasons set out in section C of the report by the Chief Planning Officer.”
“Proposal for retrospective change of use from office to short term let (sui generis) - application no.”
Minutes
Councillors at the meeting
- Hal OslerChairLib DemFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Max MitchellVice-ChairConservativeFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Joan GriffithsLabourFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- David KeySNPFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Martha Mattos CoelhoSNPFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Joanna MowatConservativeFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Alys MumfordGreenFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Chas BoothSubstitute for ParkerGreenFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
- Neil RossSubstitute for LangLib DemFor refusal(no vote against recorded)
The minutes record this decision with no vote against, so each member present for this item is shown as voting for it.
Source: Plota analysis of the council's minutes; parties from the council's list of councillors.
Sources
- Edinburgh Development Management Sub-Committee minutes, 13 May 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Edinburgh's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Council
- Edinburgh
- Date
- Wednesday 13 May 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended refusal
- Committee decided
- Refused
- Councillors
- 9Conservative 2Green 2Lib Dem 2SNP 2Labour 1Show votes
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Edinburgh committee decisions →
This committee's year
228 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 5 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.