A council is facing backlash over plans to turn a former hotel into temporary accommodation just a five-minute walk from the nearest primary school.
Edinburgh City Council was granted permission to change the use of Northfield House Hotel earlier this year as part of moves to address the capital’s growing housing crisis.
The plans attracted 143 objections, with only eight in favour.
Despite this, bosses are pushing ahead with turning the Lasswade Road building into temporary accommodation that will include 100 self-contained flats for homeless people, most of whom are thought to be single men.
It is understood those who have recently been granted asylum will be among the people housed in the property in accordance with legal obligations required by every local authority in the UK.
But with several schools nearby, including Gracemount Primary, many residents have voiced concerns over what safety measures are being put in place.
Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South Western said: ‘Local residents are rightly outraged by this deeply inappropriate decision taken by the Labour-run council.
Edinburgh City Council was granted permission to change the use of Northfield House Hotel
‘Immigration is an issue that is regularly coming up on the doors in this election and communities in Edinburgh want to feel safe.’
Residents raised a number of concerns including the impact on local healthcare and education services as well as ‘neighbour and future occupier amenity’.
Objector Carol Gourlay said there ‘is no information on the circumstances of the people to be housed in the temporary accommodation’.
She added: ‘If it is to be used by families escaping B&B accommodation whilst awaiting permanent housing or escaping domestic abuse then this is not an issue.
‘I would not deny anyone in these situations the right to a decent roof over their heads.
‘But this property is across the road from a day care nursery, down the road from another nursery, and close to two primary schools and a high school.’
Another was concerned that the change of use ‘to accommodation for anyone from recently released prisoners to homeless people with addiction and substance abuse issues’ had been ‘poorly communicated’.
One local argued: ‘There is also limited policing in this area and crime has already increased.’
Sue Webber has hit out at the decision
The council denied that house asylum seekers will be placed in the unit. Housing, homelessness and fair work convener Councillor Tim Pogson, said: ‘We already operate temporary accommodation in communities across the city, which are staffed 24/7 and managed well within the community.
'There is no presumption about who will be housed at the site beyond their legal entitlement to assistance as homeless applicants in Edinburgh.’
Ian Murray, Labour MP for Edinburgh South, has asked the council about safety measures to be put in place ‘given the proximity of the school on the opposite side of the road’. He said it had been a ‘recurring concern’ raised by those living in the area.
Edinburgh City Council Housing Homelessness and Fair Work Convener Councillor Tim Pogson, said: ‘The new accommodation unit will provide temporary housing for people without a permanent home.
'Everyone placed there will have presented as homeless in Edinburgh, received a full homeless assessment, and are entitled to Council services and support.
‘We already operate temporary accommodation in communities across the city, which are staffed 24/7 and managed well within the community.’
He added: 'There is no presumption about who will be housed at the site beyond their legal entitlement to assistance as homeless applicants in Edinburgh.’
The council added that asylum status was a matter for the Home Office, not the council and ‘the site will not be used to house asylum seekers’.