Virtual reality entertainment centre proposed for 11 Washington Lane

A business unit on Washington Lane could become a virtual reality entertainment centre under a planning application now before the City of Edinburgh Council.

The proposal concerns 11 Washington Lane, EH11 2HA, a lane off Dalry Road in the west of the city. The change would move the existing building from Class 4 business use to Class 11 assembly and leisure use, allowing it to operate as a public-facing VR entertainment venue.

The application is notable because it would bring a leisure attraction into a lane that is currently more associated with business, office and organisational uses than with visitor activity.

What is proposed

The application seeks permission to change the use of the existing Class 4 business building at 11 Washington Lane to a Class 11 virtual reality entertainment centre.

Class 11 covers assembly and leisure uses. In everyday terms, the proposal would allow the building to be used as an indoor entertainment venue rather than as a business unit.

The planning description identifies the intended use as a “virtual reality entertainment centre”. The proposal is understood to involve an arena-style internal fit-out within the existing building, rather than a newly built development.

Key points are:

• Address: 11 Washington Lane, Edinburgh EH11 2HA
• Current use: Class 4 business building
• Proposed use: Class 11 assembly and leisure
• Proposed activity: virtual reality entertainment centre
• Application status: awaiting assessment by the City of Edinburgh Council

Where the site is

Washington Lane is a cul-de-sac off Dalry Road, in the Sighthill/Gorgie ward area. It sits close to the busy Dalry and Gorgie corridor, where residential streets, small businesses, community organisations and commercial premises sit side by side.

The lane’s location matters because a leisure use can have a different relationship with its surroundings from a conventional business unit. A VR centre would be more likely to bring members of the public to the premises, potentially at times linked to leisure visits rather than standard office hours.

That does not mean the proposal would necessarily be large in scale, and the application is for the reuse of an existing building. But the nature of the use is different: from workspace to entertainment.

Why it matters

The application is worth watching because it reflects a wider shift in how existing commercial premises are being reused across Edinburgh.

Virtual reality venues sit between technology, gaming, leisure and events. They can operate like indoor activity centres, with customers booking sessions or attending in groups. If approved, the Washington Lane proposal would add a new public-facing leisure use near Dalry Road, rather than in a traditional high street shop unit or purpose-built entertainment complex.

For nearby residents and businesses, the main practical interest is likely to be how the venue would operate in the lane. Change-of-use applications of this kind can raise questions about visitor numbers, access, deliveries, opening patterns, noise from arrivals and departures, and how the use fits with neighbouring premises.

The application description does not set out every operational detail in the headline material, so residents and businesses interested in the proposal should check the council’s planning portal for the drawings and any supporting documents.

The planning context

The application is a full planning application for change of use. It was received on 21 April 2026 and validated on 24 April 2026. The council’s weekly list records it as advertised on 15 May 2026, with comments due by 5 June 2026.

The council will assess the proposal against relevant planning policies and site-specific considerations. At this stage, the application is listed as awaiting assessment, so no decision has been made.

Because the application is focused on use rather than a new building, the key planning issue is not the external appearance of a major development. The central question is whether the proposed leisure use is acceptable in this location and within the existing premises.

What happens next

The City of Edinburgh Council will consider the application and any representations submitted through the planning portal. Neighbours, local businesses and other interested parties can view the application online and submit comments during the consultation period.

To find it, search the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal for 11 Washington Lane or the planning reference 26/01695/FUL.

The application is currently recorded as awaiting assessment.