Plan to turn Edinburgh's old Royal High School into hotel rejected

A plan to turn Edinburgh's old Royal High School building into a hotel has been rejected.

Developers Duddingston House Properties and Urbanist Hotels appealed to the Scottish Government after Edinburgh Council refused permission to transform the historic site on Calton Hill.

But in a decision published on Tuesday, that appeal was dismissed.

Among the reasons given by officials in their report, they said 'the prominence and dominance of the building in certain views would be spoiled by the overwhelming scale of the extensions proposed', while describing those extensions as 'overbearing, urbanising and out of context'.

The debate over the future of the site has rumbled on for several years, with campaigners also interested in turning it into a music school.

Kevin Stewart, minister for planning, said: "Scottish ministers have refused planning permission and listed building consent for two schemes for the conversion of the former Royal High School in Edinburgh to a hotel, in view of the proposals' adverse effects on the historic environment.

"This follows the consideration of the appeals by independent reporters appointed by ministers.

"The appeals were considered by means of inquiry and hearing sessions in September and October 2018.

"In reaching their decisions, ministers carefully considered all the evidence presented and the reporters' conclusions and recommendations.''

The property was built by Thomas Hamilton in 1829 and is owned by the local authority, but has been largely unused since the school moved out in 1968.

Reacting to the decision, Edinburgh's heritage charity the Cockburn Association posted a statment online, reading: "We are delighted with the decision to dismiss the appeal and to refuse planning and listed building consent to this hotel proposal.

"The Old Royal High School is one of the world’s most significant examples of Greek Revival neo-classical buildings in the world, and it is the symbolic manifestation of the Edinburgh’s moniker “The Athens of the North”.

"Not only would the scheme caused irreparable damage to the fabric and setting of this Category A listed building, its economic value to the City’s economy was significantly less than had been said.

"We hope that the development interests behind the hotel scheme step back from their lease, which they hold until 2022, to allow the Music School proposals by the Royal High School Preservation Trust to advance."

Hear all the latest news from across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and Falkirk on Forth 1. Listen on FM, via the Rayo app, on DAB or on your smart speaker.