Yixuan LiEdinburgh, United Kingdom
Jun 23, 2020
Dear Yixuan and other signatories
We are sorry you feel there has been a lack of transparency around the proposed work to refurbish and extend Teviot Row House to make the oldest purpose built student's union in the world more accessible and fit for the 21st century. We wanted to provide you with an update on this project and we hope it is helpful.
Firstly, as you have no doubt noticed, no work has started on this project to date. The last consultation with students was in 2017 and on the back of that consultation, we submitted the plans for planning permission. The planning process for the project has taken longer than anticipated and it was already clear earlier in the year that the works to Teviot Row House would not commence before Autumn 2020. This in turn meant that the earliest we could expect the new Student Association facilities to be fully open would be Autumn 2024 – and until then all Student Association services will remain open in their current locations.
Since then we have had the covid19 lockdown and so, regrettably, the project is currently further delayed. The earliest we would now expect to see any work starting at Teviot is academic year 21/22, with opening not before Autumn 2025.
Assuming we are indeed able to start work in academic year 21/22, there will inevitably be some disruption. However the works to Teviot Row House have been phased to limit the time that spaces are unavailable at any one time. In the initial phase, there would likely be some disruption to Teviot Row House mainly impacting toilet and back of house areas. Temporary toilet and kitchen facilities may be required and there would be some noise impact in the spaces closest to the core of the building. However the majority of existing student spaces would still be physically accessible. In the second phase, which involves building an extension at the back, much of the existing building will stay open. However there will be some restrictions in spaces to the rear where the new extension will be. In the final phase, the remainder of the existing spaces in Teviot Row House will be refurbished. However by then the new spaces at the rear will already be open and occupied by the Students’ Association, and we do expect there even at that stage to be some access to older parts of the building.
You asked about the Potterrow Dome – this will be kept fully operational until the whole Teviot Row House project is complete to limit any reduction in service during the construction works.
Gavin Douglas
Deputy Secretary (Student Experience)
University of Edinburgh
We are sorry you feel there has been a lack of transparency around the proposed work to refurbish and extend Teviot Row House to make the oldest purpose built student's union in the world more accessible and fit for the 21st century. We wanted to provide you with an update on this project and we hope it is helpful.
Firstly, as you have no doubt noticed, no work has started on this project to date. The last consultation with students was in 2017 and on the back of that consultation, we submitted the plans for planning permission. The planning process for the project has taken longer than anticipated and it was already clear earlier in the year that the works to Teviot Row House would not commence before Autumn 2020. This in turn meant that the earliest we could expect the new Student Association facilities to be fully open would be Autumn 2024 – and until then all Student Association services will remain open in their current locations.
Since then we have had the covid19 lockdown and so, regrettably, the project is currently further delayed. The earliest we would now expect to see any work starting at Teviot is academic year 21/22, with opening not before Autumn 2025.
Assuming we are indeed able to start work in academic year 21/22, there will inevitably be some disruption. However the works to Teviot Row House have been phased to limit the time that spaces are unavailable at any one time. In the initial phase, there would likely be some disruption to Teviot Row House mainly impacting toilet and back of house areas. Temporary toilet and kitchen facilities may be required and there would be some noise impact in the spaces closest to the core of the building. However the majority of existing student spaces would still be physically accessible. In the second phase, which involves building an extension at the back, much of the existing building will stay open. However there will be some restrictions in spaces to the rear where the new extension will be. In the final phase, the remainder of the existing spaces in Teviot Row House will be refurbished. However by then the new spaces at the rear will already be open and occupied by the Students’ Association, and we do expect there even at that stage to be some access to older parts of the building.
You asked about the Potterrow Dome – this will be kept fully operational until the whole Teviot Row House project is complete to limit any reduction in service during the construction works.
Gavin Douglas
Deputy Secretary (Student Experience)
University of Edinburgh
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