Student Accommodation Non-Statutory Planning Guidance
Living Well Locally
This section sets out the importance of facilities to support the daily needs of occupants within a reasonable distance of their accommodation.
Please see the relevant section of the guidance
3.4 Living Well Locally
NPF4 Policy 15 requires development proposals to contribute to local living. As well as access to their place of study, students should be able to meet their daily needs within a reasonable distance of their accommodation.
The following are considered key facilities to have within a short walking/wheeling distance of a PBSA proposal:
- Local green space (good quality, accessible greenspace measuring at least 500 square metres.)
- Sport and recreation facilities
- Health centre (GP or pharmacy)
- Local shops (including a food shop).
- Bus or tram stops
Applicants should provide a map showing the proposal, and all the nearest key facilities. Walking/wheeling distances should be calculated using an expected walking route. When assessing walking distances, criteria defining ‘walkable’ routes set out in the Draft Edinburgh Design Guidance 2024 (1.5.1 Prioritising Sustainable Transport) must be used. Information should be provided as a walkability ratio. The walkability ratio is how many of the key facility categories can be met within the distances (400m for bus or tram stops and local green space, 800m for the other key facilities). For example, if a proposed development has 3 of the 5 categories that are met within these distances, the walkability ratio would be 3/5. This will be taken into consideration when assessing the suitability of the location.