A property company has been given the green light to create a four-star hotel out of a row of former townhouses, dating back to 1789, in Edinburgh city centre.

Chris Stewart Group said its proposal to develop a 239-bed hotel with a restaurant and bar open to the public, at numbers one to five Baxter's Place, close to Calton Hill, had been granted planning consent by City of Edinburgh Council. Group chief executive Chris Stewart said: "We are delighted that our proposal for Baxter's Place has received support from the council. Edinburgh has a need for further quality hotel accommodation and the site at Baxter's Place offers an ideal central location.

"We can now press ahead with work scheduled to renovate this prime site and attract investment into the capital."