'Alien' listed building set to become apartment block

An "unusal" listed 1970s office block in the New Town is set to turned into serviced apartments.

Planners had no qualms about giving listed building consent to GSS Developments' plan to convert the "alien" office block in Young Street into 31 bedrooms.

Head of planning John Bury said: "The property is an unusual listing. A derelict church stood on the site up until the late 1960s. In 1970 this was replaced by an office block whose design was based on the original frontage for Young Street, thereby achieving a Georgian appearance. This modern office, with no historic element is listed category C.

"The rear elevation is a buff brick, alien to the New Town."