An historic Edinburgh city centre hotel is set to undergo a huge refurbishment which will see an expansion into multiple retail units to form a new bar and restaurant.
The Old Waverley Hotel, on Princes Street, is the building in question as a planning application has been validated by the council which would see two ground floor retail units retained and two incorporated to form a new entrance.
A hotel has stood on the site since 1848 with the current Old Waverley Hotel now B-Listed. A corner retail unit turning into South St David Street will also be repurposed as a new entrance.
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On Princes Street, two retail shops to the left of the current entrance will be taken over, according to the plans. Monsoon and Accessorize will close, with The Edinburgh Gift Shop and Smiggle being retained, although it is unclear if they are to remain open.
The ground and basement floors have come into the hotel ownership, and the proposal is to create a new reception and restaurant on ground floor, improving access and providing a new street facing facility - whilst the basement is reconfigured for plant and improved guest services.
On the first floor, the reception and front of house will be relocated to allow space for additional bedrooms, new lifts and a service lift. In terms of the rooftop extension, an existing consent exits to incorporate related stair and lifts and to facilitate required roof plant
It is understood the existing Cranston's restaurant will be retained to allow for a new entrance to the hotel on South St David Street. Ten new bedrooms are also proposed for the eighth floor of the hotel.
A planning statement prepared on behalf of the applicant states: "Incorporation of existing retail units into hotel use, involving a new reception and the addition of Class three restaurant / bar use on the ground floor, improving access and providing a new street facing facility.
"Note the proposed changes involve the incorporation of the retail units within the Hotel Use Class seven, but to allow flexibility the applicant is seeking the retention of the ability to operate the space as Class one retail as well as Class three restaurant use as part of the hotel use. The overarching aim is to improve accessibility to the hotel whilst retaining street activity and vibrancy."
