Union Hanover submits plans for Urban Villa in Edinburgh

Union Hanover has submitted plans for a £35m extended-stay Urban Villa hotel by the Union Canal Basin in Edinburgh.

This follows confirmation that the real estate investment and development company's first Urban Villa hotel is set to launch with 100 rooms at its Great West Quarter scheme in Brentford, London, in January 2015.

Urban Villa is a boutique all-suites hotel concept. Besides a bedroom and bathroom, suites include a kitchen and living room that can be transformed to accommodate either business travellers or families. The concept is new to the UK, but more common in other parts of Europe, Asia and the US.

Plans for the 180-room Edinburgh hotel on Freer Street comprise studios, bedrooms and four luxury rooftop penthouses. It has been designed by award-winning New York-based architect Grzywinski + Pons with Edinburgh-based Michael Laird Architects.

Union Hanover managing director Eric Jafari said: "The designs pay homage to Edinburgh's cultural fabric of elegance, while infusing elements of sexy Manhattan."

He added: "We already have plans to secure a really interesting coffee shop concept and are also in negotiations to bring a high-profile restaurant operator to the hotel."

Projects development manager Paul Heap, managing director of Amco Developments, said it was hoped work would start on site in Spring 2015.

Union Hanover has a UK development pipeline of about £400m, with projects in Glasgow, Aberdeen and London. It is partnered by EquityBridge Asset Management.

Union Hanover premieres look of its first Urban Villa hotel >>