Plans have been lodged for a hotel development that it is claimed will give "viable new life" to a historic Scottish city centre landmark.
A large hotel group has put forward the proposals it said will "help secure the long term future" of the building it acquired from an insurance giant.
Dalata Hotel Group has submitted plans to the City of Edinburgh Council to transform the former office block at a key site in the New Town Unesco World Heritage Site.
It plans to operate its Clayton Hotels brand from St Andrew Square.
The developer, which has Hawkins/Brown Architects as lead designer, said: "Previous Clayton Hotel projects have taken on other historic buildings and built new extensions to maximise suitability, allowing the building to be utilised and enjoyed for years to come."
Dalata also said in its statement: "The adaptive reuse of 28 St Andrew Square as a four-star hotel is a unique opportunity to transform a significant Category A listed building within the Edinburgh World Heritage Site.
"These proposed works will help secure the long-term future of this heritage asset by giving it a viable new life. Allowing public access to this listed building will provide continuous activation to a key area within the city centre.
"Not only will the hotel provide for visitors to the city, but also for local businesses through the provision of meeting rooms and workspaces, in line with the Clayton Hotel brand."
The new proposed scheme is to be a change of use from an office to a hotel. The site has existing consent for "proposed internal and external alterations to existing office building to include removal of current extension and the provision of a new rear and rooftop extension, including cycle parking and associated facilities".
A number of planning applications have been made for the site previously, for alterations and refurbishment, with earlier consent granted for change of use from office to hotel in the late 1990s.
Dalata announced plans to open a 153-bedroom hotel in Edinburgh last year. Ireland's largest hotel operator acquired the development site for £12.5 million from Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited.
AG Barr names Euan Sutherland as new chief executive
Scottish soft drinks maker Irn-Bru has named its new chief executive and confirmed the departure date for the outgoing Roger White, who is retiring after more than two decades at the helm.
Former Superdry and Co-op boss Euan Sutherland will take over from May 1 at the Cumbernauld-based company, which owns a number of other brands such as Rubicon, Funkin and Boost. Barr announced in August and Mr White would retire at a "mutually agreed date in the next 12 months".
Scotland's gaming sector and Glasgow Airport in focus in Business HQ Monthly
The backdrop remains tough indeed - and it is still too close to call whether the UK economy fell into recession in the fourth quarter of last year - but our first 2024 edition of our monthly Business HQ supplement hopefully provides some cheer.
In an exclusive interview, head of Glasgow Airport Andy Cliffe projects strong growth in passenger numbers this year.
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