New 207-room eight-storey hotel proposed on vacant land next to the new Edinburgh Arena at the Gyle
A new 207-room hotel is proposed on vacant land next to the new approved Edinburgh Arena at the Gyle.
Mollie's Motels Ltd has submitted plans to the City of Edinburgh Council for a new eight-storey hotel, restaurant, and ancillary facilities including bar, with associated infrastructure, works, landscaping, access and car parking, on land 140 metres north of 15 Lochside Avenue.
The currently vacant site to the west of the Premier Inn Edinburgh Park hotel extends to 0.63 hectares and is located at the southern edge of Edinburgh Park, with the site of the 8,500 capacity Edinburgh Arena due to open in 2028 on the other side of the Premier Inn, to the east.
In the planning documents, the applicant highlighted the close proximity of this proposed new hotel to the arena: “The proposed development has been conceived in direct response to the evolving masterplan context and, in particular, the approval of an 8,500-seat arena.”
The proposed development comprises a modern eight-storey building, accommodating 207 guest bedrooms, including a mix of standard double and twin rooms, bunk rooms, and a proportion of fully accessible rooms in line with building standards.
A lobby, reception and lounge area will be accessed via a hotel entrance located to the south of the building’s eastern frontage. A diner and bar with an outdoor terrace will be provided, featuring independent street access from the west and internal access via the hotel reception, along with ancillary facilities including staff areas and back-of-house spaces.
In the planning documents, Mollie’s Motels Ltd said: “The proposed landscape design will draw on the established landscape character of Edinburgh Park by referencing its strong green infrastructure and distinctive topography.
“Our design approach takes the recognisable energy, playfulness, and sociable culture of the American diner and reinterprets it through local materials, planting, and the landscape character of Edinburgh Park.
“Instead of replicating the diner aesthetic literally, we translate its key qualities, warmth, vibrancy, informality, and visual identity, into a landscape that feels rooted in place.”
Vehicular access will be taken from Station Park Road, with a drop-off and pick-up bay located directly outside of the hotel entrance. Provision is made for 90 car parking spaces, including electric vehicle charging, as well as an enclosed cycle store accommodating 33 standard cycle spaces.
Mollie’s signature signage and lighting will also be featured on the building’s façade and freestanding within the site to “provide visibility and assist with way-finding for guests”.
The applicant added: “The vehicle entrance provides the primary arrival moment into the site, framed by feature trees and groundcover planting. This creates a strong focal point toward the Mollie’s signage while softening the transition between hardscape and soft landscape for a welcoming approach.
“The arrival sequence is designed to create an immediate sense of identity and welcoming, guiding visitors toward the heart of the site.
“The entrance aims to set the tone for the Mollie’s brand experience, natural, warm, and clearly defined, while easing the transition from the business park into a more curated, hospitality-focused environment.”
The site is currently open grassland with occasional self-seeded scrub. The site is largely flat allowing views of the five-storey Premier Inn to the east, the tram bridge to the south and west, with the six-storey Novotel hotel building beyond.
The council’s planning department will now decide upon this planning application for a new hotel at Edinburgh Park, with no public comments received yet on the council’s online planning portal.
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