PLANS have been unveiled for a huge new hotel with almost 200 rooms, which would transform a Scottish city landmark.
Whitbread Plc wants to convert an office block on Festival Square in Edinburgh city centre into a stunning new hotel.
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A hospitality firm has announced plans to transform a landmark in EdinburghCredit: Getty
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It will see an office block turned into a new Premier Inn hotelCredit: PA
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Plans have been submitted to the council to transform Capital HouseCredit: GOOGLE MAPS
The owners of the Premier Inn hotel chain acquired the building off Lothian Road last year and plan to invest over £21million to transform the old premises.
The firm has lodged a planning application to the local authority to turn the 65,350-square-foot office block into a hotel.
The application states that the use of the Capital House would be changed into a Premier Inn with 195 rooms.
It will involve converting the 1980s office and its rear extension into a latest-format Premier Inn hotel with new signage.
And it will include a restaurant and bar, which will be located on the ground floor.
The new hotel is expected to be called The Capital House Premier Inn.
It is expected to attract more than 56,000 guests every year, generating an additional £8.1million per year.
It is Whitbread’s latest proposal as the firm continues to commit to investing in the capital city.
It comes as the hospitality chain revealed it has seen strong long-term potential for its bedrooms across Edinburgh.
Jill Anderson, acquisitions manager for Scotland at Whitbread said: “The visitor economy in Edinburgh is thriving but there remains an unmet demand for additional budget hotel rooms in the city.
Stunning Scots hotel with jaw-dropping views and spa, right in the city centre
“Capital House represents an excellent opportunity for us to deliver new Premier Inn bedrooms at affordable prices for our customers in a fantastic city centre location.
“The location is ideal for both business and leisure customers.
“It is sustainable and highly accessible with direct bus, tram and rail networks within a short walk, it’s a stone’s throw from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) and Exchange District and is close to tourist destinations like Edinburgh Castle, Usher Hall and other theatres.
“We’re thrilled to submit proposals to transform this underused office building and bring life back into this corner of Festival Square.
“We are investing £21m into delivering the new hotel which will generate over £8m of additional guest spend into the Edinburgh economy each year and create more than 30 new hospitality jobs.
“We look forward to working with Edinburgh City Council to progress the application towards determination.”
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Whitbread currently welcomes close to a million visitors to its established network of 14 Premier Inn hotels within the City of Edinburgh Council area.
More widely, across the UK and Ireland, Whitbread currently offers its customers a choice of more than 85,500 Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn bedrooms.
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The new hotel will be called The Capital House Premier Inn and will have 195 roomsCredit: Whitbread