Long-awaited Edinburgh hotel plans at former Debenhams store approved after applicant agrees to pay £375,000
The long-awaited plans for a new 673-room hotel at a former city centre department store will now go-ahead, after the applicant agreed to pay £375,000 in infrastructure contributions.
Hotel chain Zedwell was granted permission to redevelop the former Debenhams on Princes Street just under a year ago, pending a legal agreement on financial contributions to mitigate the hotel’s impact.
The plans, submitted in March, 2024, received final permission on February 3 after an agreement was reached regarding developer contributions for the project. In Edinburgh, developers are required to pay to mitigate the impacts of their projects, with funds often being directed towards running and improving various public services.
The total developer contribution includes £162,111.64 for tram infrastructure, and £213,282 towards public realm improvements, providing a total payment required by the developer of £375,393.64.
The hotel and pod hotel development at 109-112 Princes Street and 144-150 Rose Street will include the introduction of retail spaces on the Rose Street side of the ground floor.
Approving the plans, the council’s chief planning officer David Givan said: “Overall, the development is in accordance with the development plan. The revised scheme will deliver a sustainable and well-designed development with activation at street level.
“The proposals include design features that will contribute to climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as encouraging biodiversity. The development will support the existing mixed uses surrounding the site and is consistent with the six qualities of successful places as set out in NPF4.
“The design draws on the unique townscape characteristics of the site and will create an appropriate sense of place. Other material considerations support the presumption to grant planning permission.”
Zedwell will now refit the former department store with a mix of standard hotel rooms and “capsule” rooms. There will be 328 standard bedrooms, with some having no exterior windows – while 345 will be capsule-style rooms, with a bed taking up virtually all of each room’s floor area.
A new sixth storey will be added to the building, adding a rooftop bar and three outdoor terraces. While not visible to Princes Street, they will offer views of several landmarks.
Zedwell has three years to begin work to transform the former department store into a new hotel, with the approval from the planning department including nine conditions.
These include a programme of archaeological work being carried out before and during development to both record and conserve the sites historic fabric, a detailed specification of the proposed external lighting fittings, and evidence shall be provided to the Planning Authority that Scottish Water consents to the proposed surface water connection and flow rate.
The ventilation system shall be installed, tested and operational, prior to the hotel opening to the public, the use of the rooftop terraces shall be restricted to between the hours of 7am and 11pm, and deliveries and collections, including waste collections, shall be restricted to between the same hours.
The Debenhams store was built behind 109-112 Princes Street, and opened in 1978, with an entirely new concrete structure built behind the four building facades.
For the latest public notices from your area, please visit: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/