Manbay Homes wants to deliver 31 new build to rent (BTR) homes and three retail units including associated car parking and amenity spaces.

Patience + Highmore has taken over from Format Design as architect on the project after a previous application was rejected by the City of Edinburgh Council.

The site currently consists of five retail units, associated car parking and goods delivery access, an electricity sub-station and areas of open space.

There is an empty public house on the site opposite, out with the client’s site ownership boundary, which has potential for development either as an enlarged combined project site or as a future expansion of the currently proposed development.

A statement in the application on behalf of Manbay Homes reads: “The applicant has owned the subject site for the last 21 years. They also own and maintain a row of retail units which have been let out to local individuals. These units provide essential services and have over time become an integral part of the community as it has fostered social life and communal relationships. The applicant runs and manages one of these units which provides essential groceries to the community thereby removing the need for residents to travel far for such services.

“As a way of giving back to the community which they have served for the last two decades, the development site in question would be developed as a ‘build to rent’ scheme’ at affordable prices which it is hoped will improve the overall living standard and conditions of the community as well as help move it in line with the style and standard of living available within the greater Edinburgh area. The development will also provide modern retail units to allow continuity of essential groceries, hot food and other services within the community.”

The statement concluded: “The design uses the existing road and site levels to its advantage to create a modern, safe and attractive development which will relate appropriately to and enhance the existing built environment surrounding the site.

“The layout and building arrangements have been arrived at after considering a wider plan for the future that takes account of the potential provided by the adjacent empty public house site. This includes the possibility of a larger integrated development which would remove an unused eyesore from the community and improve the local landscape by creating a vibrant multi-use public space between two new building groups which will integrate more appropriately with the wider neighbourhood and better link the northern and southern tree lined sections of Saughton Mains road.

“The proposals address the potential to create high quality, affordable modern housing in an established suburban setting combined with the retention and improvement of vital associated local amenities to enhance the sustainability of the existing community.”