A HOTEL, homes, shops and offices are planned for a former Royal Bank of Scotland site in Edinburgh.

A planning application for the Dundas Street and Fettes Row site, described as the largest project of its kind in the Scottish capital for more than a decade, has passed an early stage of the process and a public exhibition of the proposals is planned for December.

It is understood partners including Orion Capital Managers and Ediston are close to completing the process of buying the 5.9 acre site for £36 million from RBS.

About 2,000 staff were relocated to Gogarburn in 2017.

The application is for the demolition of existing buildings and erection of mixed-use development comprising “residential, hotel, office, student accommodation, senior living retirement housing and other commercial uses including food and drink and healthcare uses".

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A previous unrelated plan for homes, offices and shops at the site, which backs on to King George V Park, was withdrawn.

Ross McNulty, development director at Ediston, said: "New Town North is the biggest project to come forward in the heart of the nation’s capital for many years.

"Our team and our partners at Orion Capital Managers are excited to be making progress and we’ve been delighted with the engagement with the local community so far.

"We’re all determined that this will be a world class addition to Edinburgh, and one of the best places in Edinburgh to live, work and come together."

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He added: "This is a complex site with important links to some of Edinburgh’s finest streets and green spaces and we’re making sure we take the time necessary to secure the best proposals to enhance the local area and help meet the pressing need for high quality new homes, offices and facilities in the city."

St Bernard’s Football Club and a grey hound race track once occupied the site. In 1978 RBS commissioned its first building on site. It housed offices and a data centre. 

The developer has already  held one meeting with community members and the latest plans, which precede the full planning application, will be publicly exhibited at Broughton St Mary’s Parish Church on December 5.