Princes Street looks to string pearls together

Published on Tuesday 5 January 2010 08:44

ATTEMPTS to revitalise Princes Street received a major boost today with new planning applications lodged to transform two separate run-down buildings on the street.

The city council's "string of pearls" concept would see the famous thoroughfare developed on a block-by-block basis.

It is hoped that new planning applications now lodged by Primark and Parcotel – the Glasgow hotel developer that wants to build an easyHotel – could help trigger the redevelopment of two separate blocks at the western end of the street.

Parcotel, which has already had its proposal to change the use of 125a Princes Street from a bar and restaurant to a hotel approved, has submitted a planning application for a series of specific alterations that would make the easyHotel proposal a reality.

In its initial planning application for its development at 91-93 Princes Street, Primark describes its proposal as a "flagship retail development".

The store, in the former Marks & Spencer ladieswear branch that subsequently became a temporary outlet for Arcadia brands, including TopShop, will also include a shop front to the rear of the building on Rose Street.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "It is highly encouraging to start the new year with additional interest in Princes Street from two such well-known brands as easyHotel and Primark.

"The 'easy' brand is best known for its airline company and operates a number of routes from Edinburgh Airport. I certainly hope the easyHotel on Princes Street is as successful as the easyJet routes at Edinburgh Airport.

"I am also hugely encouraged that Primark wants to make Edinburgh one of its flagship stores. One of the interesting things is that, in London, Primark helped to revitalise an end of Oxford Street that was not working as well as it could and I hope it can do the same with its Princes Street store."

He also said that there continued to be strong interest in the wider redevelopment of Princes Street.

"We have had strong interest from a number of companies and we would certainly hope that a number of others who have spoken to us will be looking to bring deals and other planning applications to the table this year," said Cllr Buchanan.

The new easyHotel is proposed in the former Edinburgh Rock Cafe, which closed in 1998 and has been lying empty ever since.

The series of changes proposed by Parcotel include changing a number of materials throughout the building, preserving historic elements including cornices and erecting a bright orange banner at the Princes Street front entrance.

Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said the renewed interest may have been helped by tram tracks being laid along Princes Street.

"There is interest in properties from Haymarket right the way down Princes Street and along to Leith Walk.

"People are now realising that trams will raise the prosperity and attractiveness of all streets along the route."