Plans have been lodged to transform a C-listed building that was once the home of a famous Scottish publishing house.

The former W&R Chambers building in the Scottish capital, currently used as offices, would become a hotel/aparthotel according to papers submitted to planners.

A statement by Iceni Projects and O’Donnell Brown for HUBCAP, Thistle Propco Investment Ltd, also seeks permission for “internal and external alterations”.

“This project will convert the existing warehouse building providing rooms with supporting services and facilities,” it said.


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“The proposal is for the change of use at a site at 11-15 Thistle Street. It will create a high-quality apart-hotel development that benefits from the site’s highly accessible location and ensures the site has a viable and vibrant future.

“The proposed development represents a sensitive and appropriate addition to the area and will have a positive impact on the character of both the World Heritage Site, New Town Conservation Area and the listed building. It will introduce a high-quality design that takes reference form the site’s past while sitting comfortably within its surroundings and wider historic townscape context.”

The Herald: The site from aboveThe site from above (Image: O'Donnell Brown)

The current building was built in the first half of the 19th century as a printing works and warehouse for the famous Edinburgh entrepreneurs William and Robert Chambers – the creators of the Chambers Encyclopaedia and Dictionary.

The two brothers set up W&R Chambers in 1832 and had this building built in the following years.

The building was category C-listed in 1996 as an example of Edinburgh New Town’s warehouse typology.


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A former drinks industry boss who was responsible for creating Scotland’s legendary music festival T in the Park and went on to be president and chief executive of global brewing the $12 billion conglomerate Molson Coors is now turning his attention to small businesses.

Mark Hunter – the man who also pulled the plug on the long-running Tennent’s “Lager Lovelies” campaign which featured buxom beauties on the popular brand’s cans – is now giving growing firms the benefit of his experience amassed over a decades-long career in sales and marketing.


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Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey questioned how the strategy is progressing as they were both unaware of any recent developments since Ms Forbes appointed Mark Logan, the former chief operation officer of the global travel search site Skyscanner, to the role of Scotland’s chief entrepreneur last year.


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