Glass floor is a clear winner for historic Princes Street hotel

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 09:49

THEY will be among the most spectacular – and exposed – bedrooms in Edinburgh.

The owners of the historic Old Waverley Hotel on Princes Street have launched plans for an ultra-modern glass and steel floor added to its roof.

The new rooftop, which would allow the hotel to provide a further ten en-suite bedrooms, would also see the building's "unsightly" water tank removed.

The new rooms will have balconies offering stunning views of Princes Street Gardens, while rooms at the rear would have views out to the Forth.

The plans have been drawn up in consultation with council officials, who are looking at ways to enhance Princes Street.

The building, opposite the Scott Monument, is one of the city's oldest hotels, with the B-listed property dating back to 1883.

Ricky Kapoor, commercial director of the Old Waverley Hotel and Europoint Holdings Ltd, which owns the hotel, said:

"Our occupancy rates have been very high since we took over in 2003, and for the most part have been up at around 90 per cent, so we wanted to look for a way to increase the number of rooms we can offer.

"At the same time, the existing water tank on the roof is not exactly the most attractive element of the city's skyline, so the plan is to remove that and instead pump water up from the basement.

"We would then be able to create this new glass floor which we feel would be an attractive addition to both the building and the city. It is fair to say we would expect these rooms to be very popular, because of the impressive views over Princes Street Gardens and the New Town.

"We have been in consultation with the council over these plans, and we know there are restrictions because of the building's historic status, but we are very hopeful that the plans will get the go-ahead."

Mr Kapoor declined to comment on the projected cost of the new development but said, since taking over in 2003, Europoint Holdings had spent more than 3 million upgrading the hotel.

Local SNP councillor David Beckett said: "From the images they have created, it does appear as if this development will not be too intrusive to the skyline of Princes Street, although I must admit there are some views, particularly from the castle, in which it sticks out like a sore thumb."

The proposals follow plans unveiled last month to encase a Georgian building at the west end of Princes Street entirely in glass, in a 40m development of the street's first new hotel in more than 50 years.

The 103-bedroom hotel, being planned by the Deramore Property Group, would use the "glass treatment", similar to the look of the Festival Theatre, to protect the historic building.