Jenners isn't being forced away from Princes Street - according to building's owner

The owner of the historic Jenners building on Edinburgh's Princes Street says it isn't forcing the department store to move.

The listed structure belongs to Danish billionaire - and the largest landowner in Scotland - Anders Holch Povlsen.

His company is now planning to revamp the building and turn it into a luxury complex of shops, a hotel and a rooftop restaurant.

That means Jenners may need to look for a new home as soon as next year.

However a spokesperson for the real estate firm told Forth News it has offered Jenners favourable terms to stay - and any decision to leave would be up to them.

Project Manager Anders Krogh said: “It's important for us to underline that our plans do not mean closing down Jenners. Our project is to strengthen the Jenners Building.

"The iconic Jenners Building will always stay and is the very DNA of our plans. In the same way as the department store is a vital future part of the project. The starting point is renovation and development of the fantastic buildings with the aim of creating the best possible framework for future users and safeguard the future of the buildings’ outstanding heritage."

“The project is first and foremost about helping to preserve a unique historic building in Edinburgh.

"We are pursuing the project because we have a passion for architecture and historical buildings. Already when we acquired the building, we knew that it came with a great deal of responsibility.

"Jenners is an iconic building in Edinburgh, and we take the responsibility of renovating it very seriously."

Local conservationists have expressed concern about the plans for the building, which has been home to the department store for 180 years.

Terry Levinthal, Director of the Cockburn Association said: "The city doesn't need a hotel in the location of Princes Street. It's struggling with the weight of tourists already.

"What we need is something that re-enforces Edinburgh as a place to live and a place to work, not just a place for transient visitors coming in and out."

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