PLANS have been lodged for a new hotel, shopping and housing complex in the New Town Conservation Area of the Scottish capital.
Edinburgh City Council documents show planners have recommended permission in principle for a 100-room hotel, 70 homes, shops, eateries and underground parking on a brownfield site at Eyre Terrace.
The site overlooks King George V Park and Eyre Place and is just south of the Unesco World Heritage Site boundary.
It will involve the felling of a number of trees outside the park.
The application was submitted by GVA Grimley on behalf of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Tom Parnell of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland said it would wait until the full designs had been lodged for before commenting.
He said: "In general we support the use of brownfield sites. It's what keeps the city vibrant.
"In terms of the impact, it is difficult to tell at this stage."
A council report revealed: "It is proposed to build two blocks on the application site.
"The principal block is almost 'C' shaped and is proposed for the eastern part of the site extending from the northern to southern boundary.
"It will be parallel to the boundary of King George V Park.
"The other, smaller block, will be oblong in shape and sit on the south-western corner of Eyre Terrace. The application also seeks approval of the siting and maximum height of the principal block.
"The proposed principal block will be four storeys high rising to five storeys at the corners.
"The proposed smaller block will be a maximum of four storeys."
Access is proposed to be taken from Eyre Terrace, next to the existing Lorimer tenement building, through a pend leading to a basement car park.
Open space will be provided in the block's courtyard.
The report continued: "The existing trees on the application site will be removed.
"Most of the trees surveyed were found to be in fair condition with the canopies of the trees thin at lower level and the tree growth influenced by the need to find sunlight.
"The Report stated that the trees on the application site are of low quality with none of greater value and that the greater value trees are found in King George V Park.
"The loss of the trees will change the character and appearance of the conservation area.
"However, it is necessary to consider the loss of trees within the context of the proposal as a whole.
"The proposal has the potential to enhance the conservation area."
The planning report to go before councillors next week said most of the buildings on the site have been cleared and there is a grassed area on the southern part of the site and an area of overgrown trees and bushes on the northern part of the site.
The application site is near a local centre at Dundas Street and Henderson Row.
It is also near a main thoroughfare to the city centre, a frequent bus route and is within walking distance of Princes Street.
The application was lodged by Michael Laird Architects and GVA.
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