Student Accommodation Non-Statutory Planning Guidance
Requirement for Housing on Larger Sites
This section sets out guidance on the policy requirement for larger sites to provide housing alongside PBSA. It sets out:
- Definition of site area
- Calculation for 50% of the site
Please see the relevant section of the guidance
3.2 Requirement for Housing on Larger Sites
Development of housing alongside PBSA provides an opportunity to balance the mix of land uses while also contributing to the delivery of mainstream housing to create mixed communities. LDP Hou 5 and Econ 2 require sites greater than 0.25 Ha to provide 50% of the site for housing. In establishing the applicability of this requirement, the site size is defined as the total site area identified within the red line boundary on the application’s location plan.
LDP Econ 2 and Hou 5 support the approach of the LDP to create sustainable communities, maximise opportunities for housing and avoid large mono use developments. To ensure that this can be achieved and provide the best opportunity for a coordinated approach, required by Env 2, sites should not be sub-divided. Applicants should demonstrate that the site did not form part of a larger area, within a single control or ownership prior to the introduction of the principle of the provision of 50% housing on such sites, established in the Student Housing Guidance February 2016. Where not demonstrated, the requirement for housing as part of PBSA proposals will apply.
The gross floor area of housing shall represent a minimum of 50% of the total housing and PBSA gross floor area.
Proposals will be required to meet open space requirements separately for PBSA as set out in LDP Env 31, and housing as set out in LDP Env 32. Further detail of open space provision for PBSA is set out in section 4.2.7 of this guidance.
The housing proposed should meet with the relevant development plan policies and requirements of the Draft Edinburgh Design Guidance 2024. LDP Policy Hou 2 requires that developments including conversions, consisting of 12 or more units should normally provide affordable housing amounting to 35% of the total number of units proposed. This will apply to the housing element of the proposal.
The provision of housing should be compatible with site context. Within the grounds of existing university/college facilities there is no requirement to provide housing.