Residents threaten to leave upmarket street if 'super hostel' given go-ahead

Residents living on an upmarket Edinburgh street say they have serious concerns about a proposed hotel in neighbouring Georgian townhouses.

The West End street is full of Grade A-listed Georgian townhouses that are made up of offices and apartments.

But residents are increasingly concerned about proposals for numbers 14 to 17 on the street.

Owners Atholl Crescent Propco have submitted a planning application to turn those buildings into a hotel with more than 500 beds.

Critics, however, have referred to the plans as a “super-hostel”.

Local resident Michael Atkinson said: “We just fell in love with the apartment and the beauty of this place and its centrality in terms of transport.

“The (proposed) development would bring 500 visitors almost every week, if not every night, and it’s out of scale with the rest of the area

Permission had previously been granted for 34 apparetments in the blocks – an idea residents supported.

This new application will now be decided by the Scottish Government reporter after the developer lodged an appeal, before Edinburgh Councillors made a decision on the request.

The Cockburn Association previously warned the development would cause “substantial and irreversible harm.”

But not all bodies are against it, some have said the plans are “accecptable” because the use of removeable pods would make changes reversable, but that’s drawn criticism.

Raymond Muszynski from Morris & Steedman Architects said: “The buildings behind us are designed by Thomas Bonnar, who was a fantastic architect in the early part of the 19th century.

“They were, of course, designed for two principal floors, the sort of posh main principal rooms, that observed symmetry and proportion.

“These will inevitably be compromised with the introduction of pods within them.”

Residents are concerned about how busy it could become, both with tourists and with traffic servicing the buildings.

The noise from plant machinery is a key concern among those living directly next to the development.

Hilary Munro told STV News she was attracted to the property because it is in a quiet area with a south-facing garden.

“The new development will be noisy, that’s what worries me. I think my birds will go.

“Maybe it won’t be as noisy as I think, but even they say it’s going to be noisy. If the development goes ahead, I’ll move.”

Atholl Crescent Propco’s application says its proposal “provides an opportunity to further strengthen Edinburgh’s tourism sector and broader economy.”

A spokesperson for the company said: “Atholl Crescent Propco is proposing to restore four Category A listed buildings that have been vacant for several years and bring them back into active use.

“The proposals have been developed through detailed engagement with the City of Edinburgh Council and heritage bodies, including Historic Environment Scotland and Edinburgh World Heritage, to ensure the historic character of the buildings is carefully protected.

“The scheme focuses on sensitive, largely reversible interventions that allow the buildings to be reused while preserving their important architectural features.

“We recognise that some local residents have concerns and we remain committed to constructive dialogue with neighbours and stakeholders as the planning process progresses.

“More broadly, the project seeks to restore long-vacant historic buildings and contribute to the vitality of Edinburgh’s city centre by supporting tourism, local businesses and the wider visitor economy.”

A decision from the Scottish Government is expected to be made later this month.