John Lewis to anchor Edinburgh’s flagship St James development
November 16 2015
Edinburgh St James will see the existing seventies mall replaced with 85 stores, 30 restaurants, a multi-screen cinema and 210 room hotel upon completion with the refurbished department store taking centre stage.
This will singlehandedly elevate Edinburgh from the 13th to eighth most important UK retail destination.
Martin Perry, director of development at TH Real Estate, said: “The signing of the John Lewis deal is an important milestone and we are delighted that they will anchor the scheme, in addition to remaining open for business throughout construction. It has always been our ambition to deliver a world class destination for Scotland and this important piece of the jigsaw brings us ever closer to starting on site in spring next year.
Construction work is expected to get underway in early 2016 on the Allan Murray Architects design, with completion expected by 2020.
8 Comments
#1 Posted by bemused on 16 Nov 2015 at 22:52 PM
A multi screen cinema? There's already one on the other side of the road, oh, and empty restaurant/bar units. Does Edinburgh really need 30 more?
#2 Posted by Alana on 17 Nov 2015 at 13:15 PM
I can't help but notice the centerpiece resembles a giant peeled potato
#3 Posted by A Local Pleb on 17 Nov 2015 at 13:44 PM
Is this really going to create new business or simply draw it away from other areas? Somehow I think there is over provision. I am slightly surprised that the powers that be in Old Reekie are willing to accept the 'peeled' centrepiece?
#4 Posted by Tam on 17 Nov 2015 at 13:48 PM
I appear to have fallen into a wormhole and emerged back in early 2014.
#5 Posted by CADMonkey on 17 Nov 2015 at 16:32 PM
Is that the small seed of a new development site I can slowly see getting carved out of Picardy Place?
Just above the nipped off tip of the hotel.
Just above the nipped off tip of the hotel.
#6 Posted by Sue Pearman on 19 Nov 2015 at 10:23 AM
Alana, yes though I suspect if it were in Glasgow in might soon have a moniker along the lines of 'The Turd'...
#7 Posted by Concerned Person on 19 Nov 2015 at 11:34 AM
I see a lot of negative comments. A city need's to move forward and grow constantly. Any new development should be welcomed and not criticised with backward thinking.
I assume similar projects like " The New Waverly" and "The Haymarket" would also receive similar backlash from people who would rather no development take place at all it would seem.
I assume similar projects like " The New Waverly" and "The Haymarket" would also receive similar backlash from people who would rather no development take place at all it would seem.
#8 Posted by Bonvivant on 19 Nov 2015 at 14:22 PM
CadMonkey; either that or they just used a 1960's OS map showing the old street layout.
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