December 20 2023

Moves to repurpose redundant upper-floor retail space on Edinburgh’s fast-changing Princes Street are continuing with Hunter REIM the latest to cast their eyes up.

The real estate investment firm is working with Studio LBA to 'reclaim, restore and revive' a group of B-listed buildings at 72-77 Princes Street and 1-5 Hanover Street as serviced apartments. The varied properties have been sealed off above street level as storage for years, with some rooms said to have been sealed off over seventy years ago, contributing to a general state of disrepair.

To bring these spaces back to life a rationalised circulation strategy to unite the accommodation, complementing similar interventions along the thoroughfare, while maintaining ground floor retail.

In a design statement, the applicant wrote: "Our aspiration for this project is to deliver much needed family led accommodation and rejuvinate five category B listed buildings which have fallen into extreme states of disrepair. This will bring life to abandoned upper floors which contribute little to the city’s vibrance despite their incredibly prominent position with the New Town and remarkable views, as well as preserving the city’s cultural heritage."

Externally the principal intervention will be to a timber first-floor gallery added in 1910, which will be replaced by a more durable version clad in perforated metal. A new mansard roof is also proposed as a lightweight extension. 

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