Planning inquiry to consider future of Edinburgh's old Royal High School as hotel

The Scottish government has announced the launch of a public planning inquiry into controversial plans to transform the former Royal High School in Edinburgh into a "world-class" luxury hotel.

Urbanist Hotels and Duddingston House Properties (DHP), the developers behind plans to turn the historic A-listed property into a 127-bedroom hotel, have appealed against the decision to reject the scheme, taken by the City of Edinburgh's planning committee in August.

A previous planning application for a 147-bedroom property was rejected by the council in December 2015.

Meanwhile, a rival scheme to turn the iconic building into a new home for St Mary's Music School has been approved, but cannot proceed until 2022, when an agreement between the City of Edinburgh Council and the hotel developers expires. DHP and Urbanist Hotels won a competition to develop the site by 2022, seven years ago.

Now the two opposing plans are to be considered alongside one another. A spokesperson for the Scottish government said that the schemes will be "decided on their own merits".

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts was selected to operate the hotel ahead of planning permission being submitted for the proposed hotel.

Appeal set for Edinburgh's old Royal High School hotel plans >>

Hotel plans for Edinburgh's Royal High School rejected >>

Rosewood appointed to operate hotel at Edinburgh's Royal High School >>

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