Gleneagles resort owners plan Edinburgh hotel

Ennismore plans to develop two empty properties next to Dundas House which were formerly home to Bank of Scotland into a 33-bed hotel.

A bronze rear extension called the garden pavilion will be constructed as well as a new rooftop terrace for members, subject to approval from the City of Edinburgh Council.

The company is also pushing forward plans for a new sister hotel in the Mayfair area of London.

Sharan Pasricha, founder and chief executive of Ennismore, said: “We have been working with the local authority, residents and stakeholders and intend to invest a considerable sum to bring this building back to life while, like Gleneagles, respecting its incredible history and original features.”

Edinburgh World Heritage welcomed the project.

In a statement to the planning committee the charity said: “The building’s site is in an extraordinary setting; part of a range of classical buildings spanning a 170-year period.

“The development team has taken an approach clearly informed by conservation needs with a solid assessment of the significance of the buildings and the site, which should then inform the development of the overall scheme.”

Council leader Adam McVey said the plans signalled a “strong vote of confidence” to the hospitality market in Edinburgh.

He said: ”Gleneagles is a fantastic Scottish business and by expanding into Edinburgh they’re giving a strong vote of confidence to the hospitality market in the capital.

”Having visited the development, the proposals being put forward are a strong addition to the city’s offering and bring a vibrant use back to another building on St Andrew Square which is the focus of a number of exciting ongoing developments.

”While we won’t know the final decision of the planning application until the planning committee considers the application in full on Wednesday, it’s encouraging to see Edinburgh continuing to attract investments on this scale.”