Subject: Objection to appeal with reference: PPA-230-2572
Dear Christine,
I am writing to object to the above-referenced appeal concerning the change of use of flat 1F1, 11 Royston Terrace, EH3 5QU to a short-term let. I ask that the reporter give full consideration to the points below and dismiss the appeal.
I am the [OWNER / RESIDENT] of [YOUR ADDRESS] which is very proximate to the appellant's flat, and part of the same Goldenacre community.
Royston Terrace is a quiet, residential area. There is a low level of footfall and traffic. The property is close to the Botanic Gardens and adjacent to two bus stops, providing fast access to both the city centre and Leith. This makes it especially appealing to holidaymakers wishing to explore Edinburgh.
The location of the property attracts guests who are here to enjoy visitor attractions and bars, restaurants and entertainment venues. Guests will frequently enter and leave the property often late at night after returning from a night out. They will check in and check out at antisocial hours due to the need to travel to the airport for an international flight. Third-party contractors will regularly access the property to clean the flat each time a changeover occurs. This is intense use that is not comparable to residential use.
The appellant claims that there are strict rules in place to prevent nuisance. The appellant has also previously claimed that this property is his primary residence. The appellant lives in England so is not a resident at the property, therefore the appellant cannot practically enforce any rules as there is no representative on site to enforce any rules.
Permanent residents will, for the most part, wish to coexist peacefully with neighbours on a long-term basis, whereas occupants of short-term lets have no such commitment. Guests in short-term lets are not known to neighbours and have less regard for the residential amenity of neighbours, or the care of the building than is the case with permanent residents.
As a full time resident and neighbour, I strongly urge the reporter to reject this appeal and spare myself and other residents the constant nuisance of having to live near a short-term let and endure frequent disturbances. The ongoing housing crisis in Edinburgh means that it is crucial that existing residential properties remain available for long-term residents. Planning decisions should prioritise the needs and interests of the city's permanent residents, and this proposed application directly contradicts that principle and further exacerbates the housing crisis.
Sincerely,
[YOUR PRINTED NAME]