Approval for 799-unit mixed-tenure development in Edinburgh
Watkins Jones Chesser scheme gets green light
29 October 2025
Watkin Jones has received approval from Scottish Ministers to proceed with a 799-unit residential development in Chesser, west Edinburgh, following a government review of the planning decision. The scheme will deliver a mix of affordable housing, build-to-rent (BTR) homes, and purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), with completion expected in 2029.
Originally granted planning consent by City of Edinburgh Council in December 2022, the application was called in for review in early 2023 due to concerns over potential noise impacts. Scottish Ministers have now upheld the approval, concluding that the concerns were unfounded. The scheme will proceed subject to a set of planning conditions.
The development will comprise 100 affordable homes, 293 BTR units, and 406 PBSA bedrooms. Watkin Jones is currently in discussions with a local registered provider to procure and manage the affordable element of the scheme.
Located within walking distance of Slateford train station, the 4.7-hectare site includes several listed structures that originally formed part of a 20th-century agricultural market. These will be retained and refurbished as part of the project, with the most significant elements forming the perimeter of a new publicly accessible “Heritage Square.” The design has been developed in consultation with Historic Environment Scotland and the local authority.
Sustainability measures include the installation of air source heat pumps, photovoltaic panels, and a target BREEAM rating of ‘Excellent’.
The scheme is one of several large-scale developments proposed to address Edinburgh’s long-term housing shortage. The city is forecast to require over 36,750 new homes over the next ten years, including 20,000 affordable homes by 2027. A recent review of Edinburgh’s PBSA policy also identified a shortfall in student accommodation relative to the city’s growing university population.
Commenting on the approval, Iain Smith, Planning Director at Watkin Jones, said the development would play a role in addressing the city’s housing pressures while contributing to the preservation of local heritage.