Plans lodged for new Edinburgh 82-room hotel at former Radical Road pub gap site in Willowbrae
Plans submitted to fill notorious gap site
Plans have been lodged for a new 82-room Edinburgh hotel at the former Right Wing/ Radical Road pub gap site in Willowbrae.
On May 28, 83S Ltd submitted proposals for the erection of a four-storey hotel development with a commercial unit on the ground floor, landscaping, access arrangements, cycle parking, car parking to the rear and other associated infrastructure, at 229 Willowbrae Road.
The site at the junction with Northfield Drive was most recently occupied by the Radical Road pub, previously the Right Wing owned by Hibs legend Gordon Smith, but has been an empty gap site for around eight years now.
Plans lodged in 2022 for a mix of 48 flats and commercial unit there never came to anything, with the site remaining empty.
The footprint of the new proposed hotel building follows the same form as a previously consented scheme with a similar narrow width to maintain the efficiency of the plans.
If approved, the building would be accessed via a central communal entrance directly off the street which is signified by a recess in the plan with a canopy, making it clear to visitors.
The main entrance for the hotel would include a comfortable reception space, leading onto the hotel restaurant/bar. Beyond this some rooms are proposed to the ground floor with lift access to all levels.
A row of back of house accommodation would also be situated on the ground floor for the operation of the hotel.
The upper level plan for the hotel is simple and repeated, with a central circulation spine along the corridor with all rooms accessed from this spine.
In the planning documents, the applicant said: “We propose to reconstruct a strong urban edge to the development as this site represents a key node for the city. To complement this, we also propose integrating a strong green frontage to echo the surrounding public green spaces and dense, leafy character.
“This will also act as a buffer for the hotel in terms of privacy and noise. The result will be an attractive building to act as a landmark and a key point of use and interest.
“The reuse of an existing site with access to existing modes of sustainable transport and local facilities, also promotes sustainable development. Pedestrian access to the site is encouraged with level access provided throughout.
“Care has been taken to ensure that the proposals do not negatively impact on the neighbouring properties in relation to overshadowing and loss of privacy/ overlooking.
“The proposal will also see enhancements in the potential for biodiversity on the site. Additional tree and shrub planting, utilising native species, to create a managed structured landscape that not only brings therapeutic value to residents but will attract wildlife and insects to the site.”
The proposed building is to have a flat roof with compounds and also the provision for solar panels.
The City of Edinburgh Council’s planning department will now decide upon this application, which has so far received no public comments on the online planning portal.
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