The Grange & Prestonfield Community Council have demanded action from Edinburgh Council in order to preserve the building at 27-29 Ratcliffe Terrace.
Last week council planners refused permission to demolish the former Lads Institute on Causewayside and replace it with a block of student flats.
Hot on the heels of the refusal, the applicant – SDR Property Developments Ltd with an address on Gorgie Road – has made a separate application simply to demolish the buildings.
Now the community council have asked that the council issues a Building Preservation Notice (BRP) as a matter of urgency. The effect of this would be to “save a fragment of working class history in an area where most designations reflect high status individuals”.
The community council say that Historic Environment Scotland (HES) told Edinburgh Council in July of this year that the building probably met the necessary criteria for such a notice to be issued. HES also confirmed in a report dated September 2025 that the building is of special architectural and historic interest – and could probably become listed as Category C.
But The Edinburgh Reporter understands that HES cannot take any action to preserve it with a listing until the council acts first to slap a Building Preservation Notice on it. (See HES report below)
Planning Convener Councillor Joan Griffiths said: “The Council is currently considering its options with regard to this site and will work alongside Historic Environment Scotland in assessing the historic merits of the building.”
Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern said: “The Former Causewayside Lads Institute is a really distinctive Arts and Crafts style building which adds to the eclectic architectural styles on Causewayside and Ratcliffe Terrace.
“The building is not dilapidated and had until recently been in use. Given Historic Environment Scotland have recommended its listing I am pressing the Council to work with HES to issue a BRP urgently.”
And while MPs do not become directly involved in planning matters, Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South, passed correspondence from a constituent to the council for their attention on the matter.
PHOTO contributed
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