An historic Edinburgh building on Princes Street is to be converted into new restaurant.
Edinburgh Council received notice recently that the developer wants to change use for the property at 88 Princes Street from a retail shop to a restaurant.
The premises were Category B Listed in 1996 and are located within the wider New Town Conservation Area.
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Samsung previously occupied the building but they vacated the unit at the end of last year to move to St James Quarter.
The developer says that refitting the property will generate a sizeable investment, with more jobs and footfall coming to Princes Street as well.
The developers, Brantwood Investments, say they don’t have a tenant at this stage but confirmed that they are in talks with a number of high quality restaurant operators, and when planning consent is obtained they can move forward.
Brantwood Investments speak on the planning application of the decline of the high street and the number of retailers, like Samsung, that have pulled out after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now Brantwood want Edinburgh Council to move with the times and ensure that no empty spaces appear on Edinburgh’s High Street.
They say: “This outlook combined with the opening of the St James Centre is expected to draw a number of existing retailers currently occupying units on key city centre frontages and confirms the need for Edinburgh to ensure greater flexibility of ground floor uses is facilitated.”
The City of Edinburgh Council are expected to make a decision on the planning application in the coming weeks.
