Thursday October 22nd 2026
219 High Street, Edinburgh
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Nicholas Malizia
A string of short-term let applications were thrown out by Edinburgh councillors against the recommendation of officers amid concerns of reaching a holiday let “tipping point”.
Councillors debated whether to grant permission for three holiday lets within a stair on High Street, where their vote surprisingly contravened officers’ suggested action.
Plans were lodged for flats six, seven, and nine at 219 High Street to be changed from residential use to short term let (STL) accommodation. If granted, the properties would join six other holiday lets already operating at the 11-unit building.
The flats are located in a high-traffic area on the Royal Mile between St Giles’ Cathedral and Tron Kirk. A report claimed the few remaining residential flats in the stair “already experience a high degree of activity and noise” and the three additional holiday lets “would not result in any further materially detrimental impact”.
Pushing to grant the applications at the Development Management Sub-committee on Wednesday, officer Lesley Porteous claimed the new STLs would bring economic benefits through tourism. She also believed any negative impacts on residents – such as increased noise – were negligible since several STLs were already present within the same stair.
However, the applications were met with four objections from neighbours who worried the plans would harm community cohesion and reduce housing stock.
In a public objection, a Tron Square resident commented: “In the Old Town as with in other areas of the city, we have seen the loss of valuable housing to the short term letting industry and the damage this causes to our local community.
“Their impact is corrosive, as more tenement housing is used for short term visitors. The constant stream of different people in a stair is alarming for the residents and often disturbing.”
Councillor Tim Pogson felt the committee should exercise more “robust” powers to resist “erosion on the character” of the Old Town conservation area. The Scottish Labour councillor expressed his hope the flats would rejoin long-term housing stock.
He shared: “I hope this system will work and do its job to say what is and isn’t reasonable. I’m concerned about where this tipping point may be.”
Councillor David Key said granting the applications would constitute a “dramatic change” of 50% more STLs in the building which was “simply a loss of residential [housing].”
The committee’s Conservative councillors were alone in supporting the plans. Councillors Christoper Cowdy and Max Mitchell spoke in favour of the economic benefits and argued negative impacts on neighbours were minimal.
Councillor Cowdy said: “There are already a significant number of STLs here. Any detriment is already embedded.”
While the applications for the three properties were similar, councillors heard individual reports and voted on each application separately. The applications for flats six and seven were for a retrospective change of use, since each had been operating as holiday lets for several years. The third application was for a standard change of use from residential housing.
For each application, nine councillors voted to reject while Councillors Cowdy and Mitchell unsuccessfully voted to approve.
Convener Hal Osler said: “I would be strong in supporting the fact that we overturn the officers’ recommendation on this. I still feel there is a level of impact on amenity we need to protect.”
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