We encourage all residents of Leith Harbour and Newhaven to get involved in planning and licensing decisions by responding to planning consultations. If you want to know more about how to get involved, email us or come to one of our monthly meetings.
Some planning matters run for months or years. We track these separately here, along with other significant proposals that will have major impacts on the local area (good and bad). Smaller, one-off applications, such as short-term let changes of use, are covered in our monthly summary reports prepared by our Planning and Licensing Sub-group.
Reference number
Location
Description
LHNCC decision
Current status
Pre-application
Rennie’s Isle
Construction of a multi-storey hotel
Public consultation in progress
The proposal for a multi-storey hotel development on was briefly outlined at a recent LHNCC meeting by a PR company representing the developer. There was a subsequent pre-application public consultation event held at Malmaison, which was well attended by local residents and several members of the LHNCC.
Local residents are not opposed to the re-use of the current building but are opposed to the towerblock design of this proposal, given its important location on the edge of the Conservation Areas and waterfront.
The developer’s website with details of the hotel and the public consultation is at www.renniesisleleith.co.uk The residents of Rennie’s Isle have responded and set out their concerns at www.renniesisle.co.uk
Reference number
Location
Description
LHNCC decision
Current status
26/02684/FUL
Tower Street
Construction of 18 flats within a single 5-storey block, on the site of the current carpark next to Malmaison Hotel.
Comments sent to CEC on 29/07/2026
The proposal is to subdivide and redevelop existing hotel carpark with the construction of 18 1, 2 and 3 bed apartments contained within a single 5-storey block, including ancillary spaces, bin storage, landscaping and parking provision.
Reference number
Location
Description
LHNCC decision
Current status
Western Harbour
Proposed 155-flat development on Woodland plot at Western Harbour
Objection
Granted by CEC
Councillors at the CEC’s development management committee voted five to four to approve a 155-flat development on the woodland area adjacent to the ponds at Western Harbour. A deputation from LHNCC and two other local groups attended the hearing to convey the community’s strong objection to the proposal.
Following the decision by CEC to approve, LHNCC members met with planning officers to seek a better understanding of the planning process and why this development was approved. Planning officers had recommended approval as the site had been originally been designated for housing. Although councillors sometimes rejected their recommendations, sadly this was not the case for this application.
LHNCC has since written to the five councillors who voted to approve, expressing disappointment with their decision and highlighting the fact that the very strong local opposition to the proposals had not been sufficiently taken into account. We have received three responses. Councillor Mowat has agreed to meet in order to explain her decision.
Reference number
Location
Description
LHNCC decision
Current status
Western Harbour
Development of remaining plots at Western Harbour
Public consultation
This PAN relates to further development in the area of Western Harbour ponds and the remaining plots. The developer proposed two dates for the public consultation: THURSDAY AUGUST 27th & THURSDAY OCTOBER 1st. A response to the proposed PAN has been sent to CEC. We criticised the limited scope of the proposed consultation and suggested a more robust process.
As part of their PAN (proposal of application notice) Cullross Living has concluded their public consultation on their housing development plans for Western Harbour. The proposed development is on grassed land between two existing developments of little ecological interest. In contrast to the proposed development at Western Harbour Ponds, Western Harbour Owners Association recognise that this is an appropriate site for housing development. They have however provided detailed feedback on their concerns which they would like the developer to address.
We supported in principle the development of housing by Cullross on this site but asked CEC to consider the objections/comments from local residents.
LHNCC 