Residents in a Georgian Edinburgh crescent are pursuing legal action to stop the building being turned into a 544-bed capsule hotel aimed at young travellers.
The conversion of four A listed townhouses in the west end, within the Unesco World Heritage site, was approved by a government minister in July despite attracting almost 300 objections.
Atholl Crescent Propco submitted an appealed to Holyrood before the application reached the city council’s planning committee.
Neighbours and heritage supporters are now bringing a statutory appeal at the Court of Session, Scotland’s supreme civil court, arguing that serious errors were made in how the application was considered.
“The decision to pursue a Court of Session challenge has not been taken lightly and the legal arguments will now be considered through that process,” Philip Flockhart, a conservation architect who is acting as the spokesman for the residents, told The Times.
“The wider issue, which goes beyond one development, is that this was an exceptionally large and complex proposal and Edinburgh’s elected development management sub-committee never had the opportunity to consider it.”
He added: “Edinburgh needs investment and it needs places for visitors to stay. This is not about opposing appropriate development or tourism. It is about making sure people can have confidence in how major planning decisions are made.”
Scott Arthur, the Labour MP for Edinburgh South West, added: “I remain deeply disappointed by the decision to approve this development.
“The scale and 24-hour nature of the proposal raises legitimate concerns around residential amenity, noise, safety and the impact on the surrounding area.”
Atholl Crescent, an early nineteenth century terrace designed by Thomas Bonnar has previously housea a college and is currently home to a number of businesses.
The Cockburn Association, Scotland’s oldest conservation charity, claimed the development would cause “substantial and irreversible harm” to the buildings.
London-based Atholl Crescent Propco said the development will be a hotel, not a hostel. Historic fittings will be retained and the external façade will be reconfigured to reflect the original appearance.
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