Edinburgh Council Short-Term Let Planning Permission Decisions 2025

Edinburgh Council's planning decisions on short-term let applications reveal a clear pattern that every STL operator should understand.

The Key Pattern

Commercial/office to STL: mostly granted. Applications to convert offices, commercial premises, former social clubs, and other non-residential properties to serviced apartments or short-term lets have a strong success rate.

Residential flat to STL: mostly refused. Applications to change the use of existing residential flats to short-term lets face a much harder road, with the majority being refused.

Notable Grants

• 99 East London Street EH7 — Offices to short-term let: Granted
• 20 Stafford Street EH3 — Office to serviced apartments: Granted
• 27 Rutland Square EH1 — Offices to serviced apartments: Granted
• 1F2, 45 Frederick Street EH2 — Offices to short-term let: Granted
• 192 Pleasance EH8 — Former social club to serviced apartments: Granted
• 38A William Street EH3 — Former restaurant to serviced apartment: Granted
• 10 Spittal Street EH3 — Gentlemen's club to short-term let: Granted (retrospective)
• 48 Thistle Street S.W. Lane — Commercial garage to serviced apartments: Granted

Multiple units at 1 South Charlotte Street EH2 (2F2, 1F2, 1F4, 2F3) — all office/storage to STL — were all granted.

Notable Refusals

• 5 Lindsay Road EH6 — Ground-floor flat to STL: Refused (retrospective)
• Flat 4, 12 Calder View EH11 — Flat to STL: Refused
• 115 Pitt Street EH6 — Dwelling house to STL: Refused
• 3F3, 11 Rossie Place EH7 — Flat to STL: Refused (retrospective)
• Flat 6, 90 Princes Street EH2 — Residential to visitor accommodation: Refused
• 22 Learmonth Crescent EH4 — Residential flat to STL: Refused
• 78B Queen Street EH2 — Residential to STL: Refused

What This Means for Operators

If you're considering applying for planning permission for STL use in Edinburgh, the type of property matters enormously. Commercial-to-residential conversions are viewed more favourably than losing existing housing stock.

This doesn't mean residential applications are impossible — but they require stronger justification and expert support. STL Solutions can advise on the best approach for your specific property and circumstances.