Fresh plans submitted for eight-storey hotel next to new Edinburgh Park arena
The new hotel plans aim to address previous concerns raised by council officers
Fresh plans have been submitted for an eight-storey hotel next to the approved new music and events arena at Edinburgh Park.
Mollie's Motels Ltd withdrew their application in March for permission to build a new hotel on vacant land 140 metres north of 15 Lochside Avenue, next to the existing Premier Inn hotel, and across the road from Edinburgh Park Train Station, after council officers raised concerns about certain aspects of the plans.
On September 1, the hotel chain applied again to build a 207-room hotel, next to the site of the approved 8,500 capacity Edinburgh Arena which is currently expected to open in 2028.
The new hotel plans again include a restaurant and ancillary facilities including bar with associated infrastructure, works, landscaping, access and car parking.
Following consultation with council officers, the latest planning application seeks to address the concerns as far as possible, which include amendments to the previously considered scheme including a reduction of the site area from 0.623 hectares to 0.497 hectares.
There are also amendments to the proposed surface car park, significantly decreasing the number the proposed parking spaces from 90 to 70 (this includes 11 accessible parking spaces and eight EV parking spaces).
In the planning documents, the applicant said: “The scheme introduces a refined programme of spaces, including modern hotel accommodation with diner and bar facilities at ground level and an efficient back of house. The site contains opportunity for parking, within a network of carefully designed landscape zones.
“The approval of the 8,500-seat arena on the station site has removed previously consented commercial and hotel uses within the wider masterplan area.
“This proposal responds to that change by introducing a Mollie’s hotel, providing accommodation for visitors attending events at the arena, alongside a bar and diner that will help meet demand before and after events. This will enhance the visitor offer and reduce pressure on local infrastructure.
“The design has evolved through a series of pre-application discussions with the City of Edinburgh Council. These meetings have allowed the project team to test ideas, consider feedback and refine the proposals ahead of the planning submission. A review of massing options was undertaken to identify the most appropriate form of development for the site and its surroundings.”
The new application includes refinement of the proposed site layout to respond to previous design and place-making concerns, including repositioning the building closer to the future Genie Avenue to create a stronger street frontage and re-orientating the diner entrance towards the north-west corner of the site.
There is also changes to the internal building layout to accommodate the substation and bin storage within the building, allowing an area of soft landscaping to be retained despite the reduced application site.
While, a revised site layout includes an updated landscape scheme which rationalises the proposed hard landscaping, enhances soft landscaping around the site perimeter, and introduces a greater mix of native species.
If approved, the hotel’s diner and bar will include an outdoor terrace at ground floor level. The intention is that these facilities would be available to the wider public, not just hotel guests, so will therefore feature two independent entrances alongside internal access via the hotel reception.
Council planners will now decide whether or not to approve this application, which has so far received no public comments on the council’s online planning portal. Although, the previous application received 18 notes of support, with no objections by local residents.
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