Fifth time lucky for eyesore site as hotel scheme unveiled

Published on Thursday 2 April 2009 09:52

A NEW hotel is to be created on the site of a notorious Edinburgh eyesore after developers were forced to redraw original plans for a multi-million-pound scheme of apartments and shops.

Singapore-based firm Frasers Hospitality has been lined up as the tenant of the new four-star hotel, expected to contain around 120 rooms, on the site of a former bus depot near Shrub Place, off Leith Walk.

The new planning application, to be submitted later this week, will be the fifth attempt to redevelop the site.

The hotel is replacing the row of shops and some of the apartments that would have formed the basis of the 70 million scheme under the original plans by BL Developments, which were given consent in 2006.

Plans were changed after the original contractor, Taylor Wimpey, pulled out of the scheme towards the end of last year. Work had not started because of a two-year dispute between BL and the city council over the level of its contribution to the tram network and education services.

Philip Myerscough, managing director of BL, said that, if gaining planning consent and appointing a new contractor went smoothly, development of the hotel would begin later this year.

"Our proposal incorporates more than 50 per cent of green open space and would create a fantastic environment. It will be very special.

"Our programme slipped as a result of Taylor Wimpey's withdrawal but once we procure a new contractor we will be off and running."

He added that Frasers, which is also developing new serviced apartments on St Giles Street, had been attracted to the site by "the proximity to the city centre, the trams being on their doorstep and by the enormous success of Edinburgh's economy".

As well as the new hotel, BL has also redrawn the mix of housing on the site to include more small "starter flats" for first-time buyers and fewer two-bedroom apartments. There will be a total of more than 300 units on the site, with around 80 being affordable housing provided by Dunedin Canmore Housing Association.

The hotel element is to be developed first, with residential units not due to become available until around 2012.

BL had stepped in after original developer Wimpey walked away when its 30m plans were twice rejected by city planners, then thrown out at a public inquiry.

It was accused of trying to cram too many units into the site.

Leith Walk Labour councillor Angela Blacklock said: "It is a top-notch hotel that is being built on Leith Walk, which will add to the vibrant nature of the businesses already there. Business is now beginning to realise that trams are going to attract customers and people are going to want to stay on Leith Walk."