The second of 2 pre-application consultations was held yesterday afternoon to discuss the future of Centrum and BUPA Houses at 108–16 Dundas Street.
Dakota Hotels proposes adapting a previously consented plan for housing here (Issue 325) to create a 143-bedroom hotel (maximum occupancy c.250 people).
The internal arrangements would change, but the exterior successfully promoted by MMARS in 2024 (shown below) would be retained except for some minor changes to parking and fenestration.
A full planning application is expected in the spring.
Key features include:
5 storeys from Dundas and Great King Streets (7 storeys from Henderson Place).
Building line brought forward to match neighbours.
Parking for 8 vehicles (including 2 disabled spaces).
Internal storage for 20 bikes.
Servicing to the rear via Henderson Place.
New restaurant and bar (accessed from Dundas Street), open to public.
Enhanced landscape edge on Fettes Row and rear car park.
Improved biodiversity/water management thanks to green and brown roofs, new planting and swift bricks.
PV panels and air-source heat pumps.
Creation of an estimated 100 new local jobs.
The full display panels are available here.
Those people Spurtle has spoken to would all have preferred housing on this site. However, given that the original developer has backed out and no new one has stepped forward with a similar proposal, this hotel scheme is not at all bad.
In the developer’s own words, the proposal overall ‘represents a sustainable, well-managed and high-quality use that complements the character of the New Town, supports local employment and enhances the vitality of Dundas Street’.
It is certainly a lot better than yet more purpose-built student accommodation.
Dakota currently operates 4-star hotels in Leeds, Manchester (x 2), Motherwell, Newcastle and South Queensferry. Their style is apparently influenced by that of the Douglas DC-3 Dakota shown below.
Image: Towpilot, Wikimedia Commons.
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