Housing plan would replace Pitt Street industrial buildings in Leith

A stretch of light industrial land off Pitt Street in Leith could be redeveloped for housing under a new planning application now with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The proposal covers 117–145 Pitt Street and 9 Trafalgar Lane, EH6 4DE. It would involve demolishing the existing buildings and changing the use of the site from light industrial to residential.

The application is worth watching because it points to further pressure for housing-led redevelopment in this part of north Edinburgh, where former industrial yards, workshops and low-rise commercial premises sit close to established residential streets.

What is proposed

The plan is for a residential development with associated landscaping, car parking and infrastructure.

In practical terms, the application seeks permission for:

• demolition of the existing buildings on the site;
• a change of use from light industrial to residential;
• new homes on the Pitt Street and Trafalgar Lane site;
• landscaping around the development;
• car parking; and
• supporting infrastructure.

The published description does not set out the number of homes, the height of the buildings or the detailed layout. Those points will be central to how neighbours, councillors and consultees assess the impact of the scheme.

Where the site is

The site sits at 117–145 Pitt Street and 9 Trafalgar Lane in Leith, within the EH6 4DE postcode area.

Pitt Street runs through a mixed urban area, with residential streets, commercial premises and industrial uses close together. Trafalgar Lane is a smaller lane connection associated with the site address.

The planning application covers a site that is currently identified for light industrial use. A move to housing would therefore be more than a building project: it would change the role of the land in the local area.

Why it matters

This is the kind of application that can alter the character of a neighbourhood even when the site itself is not a public landmark.

For nearby residents, the key questions are likely to include building scale, privacy, daylight, construction impacts, parking pressure and how vehicles would enter and leave the site. For local businesses, the loss of light industrial space may also be relevant, particularly in an area where workspace and housing needs often compete for land.

For the wider Leith area, the application reflects a familiar planning issue: how Edinburgh accommodates new homes while managing the loss or relocation of lower-cost commercial and industrial premises.

The description also includes landscaping and infrastructure, which means the design of shared outdoor space, boundaries, access routes and servicing arrangements will matter. These details can make a significant difference to how a redevelopment sits beside existing homes and businesses.

The planning status

The application is currently listed as awaiting assessment by the City of Edinburgh Council.

That means no decision has been recorded. The council will assess the proposal against the development plan and relevant planning policies, along with consultation responses and any public comments submitted through the planning portal.

Because the application involves demolition, a change of use and new residential development, it is likely to attract attention from neighbours and people following regeneration and land-use change in Leith.

What to look for in the plans

When the full drawings and documents are reviewed, the most important issues for readers are likely to be:

• the number and type of homes proposed;
• the height and massing of the new buildings;
• how the development relates to Pitt Street, Trafalgar Lane and adjoining properties;
• whether there are impacts on privacy, daylight or outlook;
• how much car parking is proposed and how it would be accessed;
• the quality and amount of landscaping;
• servicing, bin storage and cycle parking arrangements; and
• how demolition and construction would be managed.

For many local people, the headline issue will be whether the redevelopment improves a currently industrial site without creating new pressure on surrounding streets.

How to find the application

The planning reference is 26/02210/OBL.

You can search for that reference on the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal to view the application for 117–145 Pitt Street and 9 Trafalgar Lane, Edinburgh EH6 4DE. The council portal is also where comments can be submitted while the application is open for public consultation.