Work has begun on new student flats for Edinburgh University
The former city headquarters of NHS Lothian, Deaconess House, is being converted into 318 student flats.
The building was purchased from NHS Lothian by Mace Graduation Student Living in 2011, though planning permission was not granted until April of this year. NHS Lothian looked to sell the property when they moved their headquarters to Waverly Gate and it was no longer viable for their use due to high utility bills caused by its ageing structure and poor insulation.
Jon Gorringe, finance director of Edinburgh University, said, ‘We have noted with interest the site and its journey from the sale last year – from the NHS through to planning – with an eye to including it within our portfolio. Mace has brought us a well thought out deliverable scheme which exactly fits with our future needs …