Airport needs 1500 new hotel rooms by 2013, say planners

Published on Saturday 1 December 2007 12:28

MORE than 1500 new hotel rooms are needed at Edinburgh Airport by 2013 to cope with the number of visitors coming to the Capital, planners have warned.

The number of people passing through Edinburgh Airport is expected to rise from around 8.9 million a year now to around 13 million in 2013, and 23 million by 2030.

To cope, an extra 550 rooms will be needed near the airport by 2010, a further 1000 by 2013 and 2100 more by 2030, according to a report to go before the city's planning committee.

Almost two-thirds of the rooms needed are in three and four-star hotels. The planners also say more high-quality accommodation is needed in the Capital itself.

Peter Dornom, general manager of the Edinburgh Marriott Hotel in Glasgow Road and chairman of Edinburgh Principal Hotels Association, said: "It is important to promote the ongoing growth of the west side of the city, as we have the airport on this side.

"With the continuing expansion of Edinburgh Airport and opportunities for new business parks, I'm very supportive of these proposals, but it is important the developments meet national expectations as well as those of the city."

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said the need for new hotels reflected the city's growing international reputation for business.

He said: "The focus on 1000 new hotel beds for west Edinburgh is important in recognising the growing role and potential this area has for the city.

"As part of our current shortfall of 4000 beds city-wide, such an investment could only be welcome.

"The success of the airport, the West Edinburgh plan and the potential for two more world-class headquarters north of the A80 are building blocks in growing our international reputation and connectivity.

"None of this will happen without building infrastructure fitting for a European capital city."

Councillor Jim Lowrie, convener of the city's planning committee, said: "Edinburgh Airport is identified as a gateway to Edinburgh and Scotland.

"This report gives further evidence of Edinburgh's growing success and the need to manage that growth in a planned and structured way."

A spokeswoman for the airport said: "We consider the need for additional hotel provision, both on airport and offsite, to be a key requirement to provide our growing number of passengers with a range of quality and choice."

The report - which recommends that an area south of the southern boundary of Edinburgh Airport be used for high-quality development - will go before the city's planning committee on Thursday.