Plans to redevelop iconic Jenners building in Princes Street have been shelved amid Covid-19 pandemic

Plans to redevelop the Jenners department store have been shelved amid the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel and tourism.
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Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen wants to transform the iconic building into a mixed-use hotel, cafe and restaurant after he bought it in 2017 for a reported £50 million.

Before the pandemic took hold, it was understood Jenners had been set to leave its historic location later this year or early in 2021.

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But a staff member at lead architect for the project, David Chpperfield Architects, confirmed to the Edinburgh Evening News on Friday that the project has been temporarily put on hold.

Jenners is set to disappear from Princes Street after 181 years.Jenners is set to disappear from Princes Street after 181 years.
Jenners is set to disappear from Princes Street after 181 years.

The impact of Covid-19 on the travel and tourism industry is believed to be a major factor.

In November last year, the Edinburgh Evening News revealed proposals for a restoration of the building including the construction of a hotel, rooftop restaurant and bar.

Plans also include a complete restoration of the Category A listed building’s facade, including sensitive reinstatement of lost original elements. However work was not planned to start before a timeframe was established with House of Fraser, who trade under the Jenners brand name.

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The lead architects and project manager for the hotel proposals have been contacted for more details about the new timeframe.

Jenners was bought by House of Fraser, now owned by Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct, in 2005 but was previously a family-run business for nearly 170 years.

One of the last family owners of Jenners, Andrew Douglas-Miller, managing director of the store between 1999 and 2003, said at the time the proposed transformation could give the building a “new lease of life” and recalled how it was a “joy and privilege” to serve Edinburgh for so long.

The project’s delay was also highlighted by the publication Architects’ Journal on Friday in a report which revealed new data released by industry tracker Glenigan, which showed the sectors and regions most affected by Covid and Brexit uncertainty.

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Earlier this year, the Evening News also reported that the owners of the historic building were unable to say whether the Jenners name would be kept as a feature on the building for any future redevelopment.

It remains unclear whether Jenners will move into a unit at the new St James Quarter when current tenants, House of Fraser, vacate Princes Street.

A number of stores in Edinburgh city centre have previously announced they intend to relocate to the new St James Quarter.

Danish jewellery store Pandora was announced as a new tenant earlier in the year, while Next also confirmed it would be departing Princes Street for the new shopping centre.

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Boots, O2, H&M, Superdrug, Three, Yo! Sushi, and Bank of Scotland said they would not close stores when their new St James locations opened.

Other brands confirmed for the new shopping centre include Scottish restaurant brand Mac & Wild, American fast food restaurant Five Guys, Spanish clothing retailer Pull&Bear and British menswear retailer Hackett.

A five-screen Everyman Cinema will also be opening in the St James Quarter along with two hotels.

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