73 Ferry Road building could become five flats under new Edinburgh planning application

A building on Ferry Road in north Edinburgh could be turned into five flats under a new planning application lodged with City of Edinburgh Council.

The proposal is for 73 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4AQ, and would change the use of the property to residential. It also includes demolition of a rear building and new external works, including landscaping, car parking, cycle parking and a bin store.

The site sits on Ferry Road, one of the main east-west routes through north Edinburgh, close to Leith and the wider EH6 area. The property is also within the Leith Conservation Area, meaning demolition and changes to the building and its setting are likely to attract close attention from planners and neighbours.

What is proposed at 73 Ferry Road

The application seeks permission for a change of use to residential use, creating five new flats.

The main elements are:

• conversion of the existing building to residential use
• five new flats
• demolition of the rear building
• new landscaping
• car parking
• cycle parking
• a bin store
• associated works around the site

The proposal would therefore change both the use of the property and the layout of the land around it. For nearby residents, the most visible changes would likely be the removal of the rear structure and the introduction of residential entrances, servicing, parking and storage arrangements.

Why this Ferry Road application matters

Small residential conversion schemes can still have a noticeable local impact, especially on busy mixed-use streets such as Ferry Road.

A move from a club building to flats would alter how the property is used day to day. Instead of a non-residential use, the site would become homes, with residents, waste storage, bike parking and car parking forming part of the permanent arrangement.

The inclusion of cycle parking and bin storage is also important in a dense urban area. These details often affect how well a conversion works for both residents and neighbours, particularly where pavements, rear spaces, lanes or shared boundaries are already under pressure.

Demolition is another reason the application is worth watching. The rear building is proposed to be removed, and a linked conservation area application has also been lodged for that demolition. Because the site is in the Leith Conservation Area, the effect of demolition on the character and appearance of the area is likely to be a key planning consideration.

The site and local context

73 Ferry Road is in the EH6 postcode area, on a major route connecting parts of Leith and north Edinburgh. Ferry Road contains a mix of residential, commercial, community and service uses, with many properties close to one another and limited space around buildings.

That context makes layout details especially relevant. Parking, cycle storage, refuse collection and landscaping are not just technical matters; they shape how a converted site functions once occupied.

The proposed five-flat scheme follows earlier planning activity at the same address. A related 2025 full planning application proposed part demolition and change of use to six residential flats, with landscaping, car parking, cycle parking, a bin store and associated works. That application is listed as awaiting assessment. A separate conservation area consent application for substantial demolition in a conservation area is also recorded at the address.

The current 2026 proposal is for five flats rather than six, while retaining the core idea of residential conversion, rear demolition and external site works.

Linked planning applications

There are several linked records for 73 Ferry Road. These include:

• 26/02360/CON — demolition of the rear building, awaiting assessment
• 25/02902/CON — substantial demolition in a Conservation Area, awaiting assessment
• 25/02903/FUL — part demolition and change of use to six residential flats, with landscaping, parking, cycle parking, bin store and associated works, awaiting assessment

The new full planning application is the one setting out the proposed five-flat residential conversion. The linked conservation area application deals specifically with demolition of the rear building.

What happens next

The application is currently marked as Awaiting Assessment. That means City of Edinburgh Council has received and validated the case, but no decision has been issued.

Planning officers will assess the proposal against relevant planning policies and site considerations. For a site in the Leith Conservation Area, issues may include the effect of demolition, the design and layout of the conversion, residential amenity, access, parking, cycle storage, waste arrangements and landscaping.

Neighbours and other interested parties can look up the application on the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal to view documents and follow its progress.

The planning reference is 26/02361/FUL for 73 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4AQ.