The 1960s office block, once home to the Scottish Exam Board and later the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, has stood empty since 2023 following the Law Commission’s move to Parliament Square.

Balfour Beatty Investments, working with jmarchitects, has lodged plans to clear the site and deliver 172 purpose‑built student flats, a proposal planners say would make a positive contribution to Edinburgh’s housing provision for those in further and higher education.

Council officials have advised councillors to grant permission, noting that the scheme would not have an adverse impact on neighbouring residents or the setting of nearby listed buildings. They also highlighted its alignment with compact urban growth principles and the city’s ambition to support 20‑minute neighbourhoods.

In planning documents, the developer said it was “excited and proud” to invest in a city with a strong educational and cultural heritage. The new residence would offer a mix of cluster flats, studios and accessible studios, supported by inclusive landscaping and improved access arrangements designed to meet a broad range of student needs.

The Causewayside plot has a long history, dating back to the 16th century. It later housed the former Causewayside School, which was demolished in 1966 to make way for the current office building now earmarked for redevelopment.