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Criterion Capital has revealed that it has received planning permission to build a hotel on Princes Street in Edinburgh, its first hotel outside of London.
As part of the development, Criterion will be redeveloping a former Debenhams space which is a prominent listed building within Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Criterion said the hotel will have 652 beds across three accommodation types, designed to “enhance urban hospitality”. The firm also stated that it was looking to “enhance not demolish the building”, through optimised waste and water management.
Criterion stated that the redevelopment will create more that 50 on-site jobs, and that it will aim to forge partnerships with local businesses to “stimulate economic growth and community engagement”.
The move is part of Criterion Capital’s plan to create 8,500 rooms by 2028, including new Zedwell locations in the City of London, York, Manchester, and Edinburgh.
Director Omar Aziz said: “Princes Street reflects our ongoing commitment to heritage preservation and sustainable urban transformation. We are excited to bring our first Zedwell hotel outside London to such an iconic location – offering an unparalleled stay for both leisure and business travellers, right at the heart of Edinburgh’s historic city centre.”
The news comes after Criterion announced the opening of its fourth Zedwell hotel in the heart of Knightsbridge within the historic Scotch House.
Knightsbridge follows the success of Zedwell’s other flagship London locations – Piccadilly Circus, Tottenham Court Road, and Greenwich.
