EDINBURGH councillors have granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for a new 55-room aparthotel on Forth Street and Broughton Street Lane.
The project will be undertaken by Supercity Aparthotels. Its first operation in Scotland’s capital, the aparthotel will incorporate Forth House and Playfair House, current home to Radio Forth, with associated parking, landscaping, and ancillary works.
Features will include a communal lounge/bar area, with 24-hour reception facilities and a gym. It is estimated that around 18 jobs will be created by the project.
Supercity Aparthotel’s core clients are said to be business travellers and extended stay guests.
The front of the B-listed Forth House will remain ‘mostly unchanged’. Minor changes are proposed on the rear elevation, such as changing an existing opening to a door.
Modern Playfair House, fronting Broughton Street Lane, will be stripped back to its superstructure and a new facade of natural stone and precast concrete built to align with adjacent buildings, reinstating the mews street frontage.
Five car parking spaces will include electric vehicle charging points. Ten cycle parking spaces will be located internally with an additional four external spaces in the car park.
Roger Walters, chairman of Supercity Aparthotels said, “We are delighted that our aparthotel operation has been approved by the committee, which will preserve the fabulous Forth House. This is an excellent location for our first operation in Edinburgh, lying close to the busy city centre and will also serve to benefit the community through reducing movements to and from the building than is currently the case.
“We look forward to working commencing onsite and will continue to engage with the community to ensure that it is kept updated as works progress.”
