It’s been an eyesore for Stockbridge residents for too long, but The Raeburn House Hotel could be brought back to life if new owner Archie MacLean gets planning permission to restore the run-down building into a boutique hotel.
A public meeting held in Lifecare House last week heard that council officials do not support Mr MacLean’s plans to add two storeys to the existing B-listed building, creating an up-market ten bedroom hotel. The new owner – who paid £1.2 million for the hotel last November – organised the public meeting to gauge local feeling and to harness support for the plans.
Mr MacLean said: “Council officials have suggested a single storey extension that becomes two stories further back, but that wouldn’t work for us. Guests would have to go through the restaurant to use the lift and from an operational point of view that is implausible. We feel that with local support we have a chance of getting planning permission”.
Mr MacLean estimates that restoration work would cost from £1.5 – £2 million.
There was widespread support from the 150 people who attended the 16 February meeting – a show of hands was unanimous.
Architects Aitken Turnbull Architects Limited will submit a planning application later this month, and if permission is granted it’s thought that the revamped Raeburn House Hotel could open in August 2013.
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