Plans to create a Scottish city's largest hotel are to go before councillors.
The proposal is to double the size of an existing site to offer a 480-room hotel on the edge of the city, which would be the second-largest hotel in Scotland.
City of Edinburgh council officials have recommended the plans by Leach Rhodes Walker and Lichfields on behalf of Ability Hotels be granted.
The move would double the size of the Hampton by Hilton at Edinburgh Airport, currently offering 240 rooms.
A report to be considered by councillors next week reads: “The principle of the hotel extension is acceptable in the Edinburgh Airport special economic area and re-use of a brownfield site is supported by the development plan.
“The design and phased approach is acceptable and the extension complements the existing hotel in terms of appearance, mass, and scale. The site layout represents coordinated development, which is easily navigable by pedestrians, while the landscape proposal will contribute positively to a sense of place and deliver biodiversity enhancement to the site.
“Subject to the recommended conditions and the conclusion of a legal agreement in relation to a tram contribution and a cumulative transport contribution the proposed hotel extension is acceptable and complies with the development plan.”
The hotel described as Scotland’s largest is the 494-room Social Hub hotel that sits on the site of a former Goldberg’s department store and is part of the £300 million regeneration of Candleriggs Square in Glasgow’s Merchant City.
Metalworkers agree inflation-bursting two-year payrise
Workers at a Highland aluminum plant have secured an inflation-bursting payrise following union talks.
Around 200 metalworkers at Alvance Aluminium in Lochaber, near Fort William, will be given the two-year payrise starting from next month.
The deal was negotiated by the Unite union, and will be implemented in two separate wage increases: five per cent for plant operators effective from April this year, and four per cent for those in staff and administrative roles effective from September.
Scottish broadcaster reveals new leader
STV has appointed a new chief executive.
The Glasgow-based media firm has recruited Rufus Radcliffe from ITV to succeed Simon Pitts, who will depart on October 31.
Mr Radcliffe will take the helm on November 1 following a 13-year stint at ITV, where until April 2024 he was a member of the executive committee and was latterly managing director of streaming, interactive and data.
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