S Harrison has appointed Scottish construction company Clark Contracts to build a new purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) scheme in Canongate, just behind Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Several existing buildings have already been demolished on the site and numerous older and architecturally interesting elements have been retained and will be sympathetically incorporated into the new development.
The PBSA scheme will comprise 76 studio rooms, separate study rooms, a multimedia room, gym, break out space and cycle storage. Clark Contracts will start work on site this month and the development will complete in time for the start of the 2026 academic year.
David Clancy, from S Harrison, said: “This latest development in Canongate will create more much-needed student accommodation in the heart of one of Europe’s top university cities, opposite the Holyrood Campus of The University of Edinburgh and within easy reach of lots of other key university facilities. We’re therefore delighted to appoint Clark Contracts and give this tired and unloved brownfield site a new and sustainable future, with a sympathetic design that contributes towards preserving the character and appearance of Edinburgh’s Old Town Conservation Area.”
Michael Scanlan, director at Clark Contracts, added: “This project will combine significant elements of the site’s existing historic buildings alongside a new five-storey building, and the whole development is designed to be highly energy efficient and will utilise the latest green technology. We have a strong track record of delivering successful PBSA schemes and high-quality projects in sensitive and historic parts of Edinburgh, so we are delighted to have been appointed by S Harrison to deliver this development and look forward to starting work during January.”
James Coppack, head of QIP Development Group, which has forward-funded the development, said: “This second collaboration with S Harrison in Edinburgh, represents another important milestone in our commitment to growing our vertically integrated UK PBSA platform. Over the past year, we have worked closely with S Harrison to deliver projects that meet the rising demand for high-quality accommodation in key student markets.
“The Canongate development is a particularly interesting one for us as the site is situated within the Royal Mile, a street that provides a main throughfare of the old town of the city. The development encompasses historical preservation through the incorporation of the former walls and workshop building, whilst providing a best-in-class scheme that complements its local context.”
