Forth Street Apart-Hotel
Posted on: March 17, 2026
Opposes apart-hotel; risks interiors, heritage integrity, and mixed-use balance.
Address: 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 – 26 Forth Street Edinburgh EH1 3LH
Proposal: Change of use from offices to an apart-hotel including alteration and extension
Reference 26/00660/FUL
Closing date for comments: Fri 27 Mar 2026
Determination date: Thu 23 Apr 2026
Result: Pending
Cockburn Response
The Cockburn Association objects to the proposed conversion of 16–26 Forth Street from office use to a large apart-hotel.
While the continued repair and reuse of historic buildings is welcome in principle, the scale and intensity of the proposed development raise significant concerns. The level of internal subdivision required to create approximately ninety visitor accommodation units risks undermining the spatial character and architectural integrity of the listed Georgian interiors.
Concerns also arise regarding the design and scale of the proposed rear extension within the courtyard environment, which must remain clearly subordinate to the historic terrace.
More broadly, the proposal contributes to an increasing pattern of converting buildings within the city centre to visitor accommodation. While tourism is an important part of Edinburgh’s economy, the cumulative loss of employment and mixed-use functions risks undermining the balanced character of the New Town.
For these reasons, the Cockburn Association objects to the proposal and encourages the planning authority to carefully consider both the heritage impacts and the cumulative effects of visitor accommodation within this historic area.