Irish tycoon's £40m plan for boutique hotel wins support
A NEW hotel and restaurant complex proposed by an Irish property tycoon is set to be created at the top of Leith Walk.
Paul Fitzpatrick, owner of the fashionable Beacon and Morgan hotels in Dublin, is behind the £40 million venture to convert a row of Georgian townhouses on Baxter's Place at the top of Leith Walk, near the Edinburgh Playhouse, into a 166-room boutique hotel.A four-storey 1970s office block at the rear of the A-listed townhouses would be demolished under the plans and converted into a large hotel extension connected by glass bridges, but the plans have sparked concern from residents and community groups, who claim the area is already plagued by noisy drunks at pub and club kicking-out times. The objectors also say the proposed extension building is too large and traffic in the area would be increased.In a report to the planning committee, planners recommended the project be approved subject to conditions as it would not have a "detrimental impact" on the areas's World Heritage Site status, or as part of the New Town Conservation Area. The scheme will go before the planning committee on Wednesday.Historic Scotland indicated a preference for the hotel extension to be smaller, but also said the scheme would have "minimal impact" on the listed building and World Heritage Site.If councillors approve the development, the developer, Fitzpatrick Design Collection, will be asked to contribute £327,329 to the Capital's tram project.Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "I very much welcome this exciting and innovative hotel investment."John Knight, planning convener with New Town and Broughton community council, wrote in an objection letter that the hotel extension should be at least one floor lower – it will be six storeys at its highest point – to prevent invasion of privacy to residents in nearby Marshall's Court.Reverend Andrew Anderson, from Greenside Parish Church, said in an objection letter that local residents already suffer a "sometimes distressing level of noise and disturbance" on Friday and Saturday nights. He added: "The prospect of local residents having to suffer even more of this as a result of the proposed hotel is in our view unacceptable."A spokesman for Fitzpatrick Design Collection said: "We have had a thorough and productive consultation with the planners and local residents. Every element of the plan has been given detailed thought and consideration."
Paul Fitzpatrick, owner of the fashionable Beacon and Morgan hotels in Dublin, is behind the £40 million venture to convert a row of Georgian townhouses on Baxter's Place at the top of Leith Walk, near the Edinburgh Playhouse, into a 166-room boutique hotel.A four-storey 1970s office block at the rear of the A-listed townhouses would be demolished under the plans and converted into a large hotel extension connected by glass bridges, but the plans have sparked concern from residents and community groups, who claim the area is already plagued by noisy drunks at pub and club kicking-out times. The objectors also say the proposed extension building is too large and traffic in the area would be increased.In a report to the planning committee, planners recommended the project be approved subject to conditions as it would not have a "detrimental impact" on the areas's World Heritage Site status, or as part of the New Town Conservation Area. The scheme will go before the planning committee on Wednesday.Historic Scotland indicated a preference for the hotel extension to be smaller, but also said the scheme would have "minimal impact" on the listed building and World Heritage Site.If councillors approve the development, the developer, Fitzpatrick Design Collection, will be asked to contribute £327,329 to the Capital's tram project.Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "I very much welcome this exciting and innovative hotel investment."John Knight, planning convener with New Town and Broughton community council, wrote in an objection letter that the hotel extension should be at least one floor lower – it will be six storeys at its highest point – to prevent invasion of privacy to residents in nearby Marshall's Court.Reverend Andrew Anderson, from Greenside Parish Church, said in an objection letter that local residents already suffer a "sometimes distressing level of noise and disturbance" on Friday and Saturday nights. He added: "The prospect of local residents having to suffer even more of this as a result of the proposed hotel is in our view unacceptable."A spokesman for Fitzpatrick Design Collection said: "We have had a thorough and productive consultation with the planners and local residents. Every element of the plan has been given detailed thought and consideration."
