THE owners of the Cameron House resort on the banks of Loch Lomond have unveiled plans for a multi-million pound new development in North Edinburgh.
About 120 jobs will be created when the De Vere Group opens its first venture in the capital on the site of an empty office block at Crewe Toll.
It will be a major boost for the city’s tourism industry, which has seen a number of major hotel schemes either delayed or put on hold in recent years.
The £20 million De Vere development will feature a 120-room hotel, a health and leisure complex and a conference centre. Facilities will include a 20-metre swimming pool, a restaurant, bar and Starbucks cafe.
The company is asking Edinburgh City Council for permission to build 270 parking spaces at the site due to its expected popularity.
It will be one of 15 new “village urban resorts” the company is planning to add to its 63 existing sites across Britain.
The site at Crewe Toll, will replace Helix House, an office complex that dates back to 1987 but has been lying empty for several years.
Robert Cook, chief executive of De Vere Village Urban Resorts, said: “Edinburgh is a high- priority location for us and we are very excited to be bringing this concept to the city.
“The selected site is prominently located in North Edinburgh. The redundant office building on site, Helix House, has been vacant for many years and is becoming something of an eyesore.
“Our new Edinburgh village urban resort will be a positive landmark building in this prominent location.”
De Vere has already begun talks with the city council about the development, set to be next to the Edinburgh headquarters of finance firm State Street.
Local Councillor Iain Whyte said “”The De Vere Group proposal for a hotel at Crewe Toll is a welcome investment in the area that should bring local jobs and will reuse a site that is currently empty. It could make a major impact and revitalise a rather sterile corner of the ward adjacent to the roundabout.
I am conscious that there is the possibility of concerns for nearby residents as a hotel is likely to require a liquor license. I very much hope that De Vere will consult local people properly to ensure that anypotential concerns are addresed in advance.”
Ian Kettlewell, associate director of planning consultants Nathaniel Lichfield, said: “This exciting new development will regenerate an important and prominent site, removing a building that has been vacant for a number of years.
“The new village urban resort will create 120 new jobs, offering significant training opportunities and boost to the local economy, as well as further jobs during the construction phase,”
Ward Councillor Gavin Barrie said “This appears at first sight to be a welcome proposal to develop a sites here currently a vacant and decaying building stands but proper cognisance of the wishes and thoughts of the local community must besought before any decisions are made.”
Major hotel projects delayed in Edinburgh in recent years include Caltongate, near Waverley Station, one earmarked for a site next to Haymarket Station, the former Royal High School and the site of the St James Centre.
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