Save Leith walk

Save Leith Walk is a grassroots public campaign to prevent the demolition of a building, protect the heritage of the Walk, and celebrate the very essence of what Leith is. Please join us now.

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Over the last ten years these has been a significant rise in the number of students in Edinburgh.   And no wonder, it is an attractive and dynamic place to stay.  Our universities do important work and many from within Britain, the European Union and overseas want to come and study at these.

However this development has been led by the universities and developers and local communities have often felt left out of a development that affects them.  As a result the development of Purpose Built Student Accommodation is often where the concerns becomes manifest as the planning process allows local communities to comment on developer’s proposals.

Save Leith Walk has learned about this the hard way and has produced a short guide to look at what we have learned about student accommodation in particular and how it can help others express their views.

You can view and download the document by clicking on this link:

A Campaigners Guide To Purpose Built Student Accommodation in Edinburgh

The Save Leith Walk campaign  invited the community of Leith to a Community Planning Workshop in January 2019 in order to develop an alternative vision for the land on Stead’s Place as well as the 106-154 Leith Walk red sandstone building. This event was an opportunity for the community of Leith to voice their wishes and needs in regards to development.

Here are some of the ideas which came out:

The event took place at:
Leith Dockers Club
17-17a Academy Street
EH6 7EE, Edinburgh

Let’s remember that Leith Walk is about community.  It is about people working together, people living together and people sharing together.    Developing a community is more than a set of new building opportunities. Developing a community is changing and supporting people’s lives.

We have listened to and worked with thousands of people about what
they thought Leith needed.   And out of this emerged a vision for
Leith as a well-connected society looking after everyone, including
people with special needs, elderly, young families and students.

This vision seeks to build on the strength of the existing community
and to create new ways of bringing people together.  They can enhance
the area, preserve its diversity and inclusivity, and contribute
towards Leith having a bright future in the 21st century.

Read this vision and let us know what you think;

Vision Summary:

Full Vision:

 

 

The Planning key details are of the Planning Application at Stead’s Place are:

• Demolition of the red sandstone buildings at 106 – 154 Leith Walk, where a number of lively and well loved local businesses currently operate.
• 471 Student bedrooms.
• 56 bedrooms hotel.
• 6-7 storey high buildings.
• Only 53 ‘affordable housing’ flats.