Portobello Mews LLP has applied for permission to demolish the now-closed Orcadia Trampoline Centre on Windsor Place and build three contemporary mews homes in its place. The centre, which operated from the 1960s until early 2024, was a much-loved local venue known for children’s parties, a café, and a dance studio. Originally established in 1965 by Drew and Sheila Kennedy, it was later leased out before closing permanently.

Located within the Portobello Conservation Area, the 700m² site currently features single-storey commercial buildings, a small courtyard, and a largely paved garden area. The internal spaces include a former canteen, trampoline hall, and studio.

According to the application, the proposed development would comprise three two-storey homes designed with pitched roofs and private south-facing gardens. The design is intended to reflect the architectural style of the surrounding area, while introducing high-quality family housing that integrates more effectively into the neighbourhood.

Planning consultants Ferguson Planning stated: “The scheme proposes a development of three contemporary mews houses, providing high-quality family accommodation in keeping with the area. The proposed redevelopment has been sensitively designed to respond to the historic and architectural character of the site and surroundings.”

They added that the project aims to enhance the area’s historic environment and better align with the existing urban fabric, respecting nearby listed buildings and preserving the site’s distinctive setting.

Construction could begin by late 2025, pending planning approval, with completion targeted for the end of 2026. The development layout has been designed to minimise the impact of parking and ensure both privacy and a sense of connection between the three homes. Air-source heat pumps will be installed away from living areas to reduce noise disturbance.

The proposals also include timber cladding on the rear of two homes and a set-back gable wall on the third, softening the development’s visual impact. The site is enclosed by the backs of properties on Portobello High Street, Windsor Place, and Lee Crescent, with an open boundary on one side.