Historic hotel in Edinburgh to be converted into serviced apartments

Key Points

• Planning permission granted by Edinburgh Council committee for converting the former Claremont Hotel in Canonmills, Edinburgh, into seven serviced apartments.
• Vote was six to four in favour on Wednesday.
• Property operated as Claremont Hotel until closure in 2022, with 18 rooms accommodating 50 guests.
• Locals and community council objected, preferring earlier plans for flats over serviced apartments.
• Property on Claremont Crescent terrace, which includes flats and office space for Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre.
• Each serviced apartment to have capacity for four people, totalling up to 28 guests at once.
• Developers S1 previously granted permission for flats, but works not completed, so still classified as hotel for planning.
• Councillors sympathetic to local concerns but found no grounds to refuse; some noted serviced apartments less impactful than prior hotel use due to fewer guests and removal of bar and amenity space.
• Green councillor Ben Parker opposed, citing amenity concerns in sensitive residential area.
• SNP councillor David Key supported reluctantly, stating planning grounds straightforward despite preference for residential.
• Convener and Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler acknowledged concerns but noted limits of council powers.

Canonmills, Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News)) February 25, 2026 – Planning permission has been granted to convert the former Claremont Hotel into seven serviced apartments, following a narrow six-to-four vote by a city council committee on Wednesday. The decision overrides local objections favouring residential flats and reflects ongoing debates over property use in this sensitive area near the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. Developers S1 argued the change aligns with prior permissions, though uncompleted works kept the site’s hotel classification intact.

What triggered the council’s decision?

The Development Management Sub-Committee of Edinburgh Council voted to approve the conversion after considering planning merits. As reported in The National, the property on Claremont Crescent had operated as the Claremont Hotel until its closure in 2022, previously hosting 50 guests across 18 rooms. Under the new proposals by developers S1, seven serviced apartments would each accommodate up to four people, capping total occupancy at 28 guests.

This shift comes after S1 secured earlier permission to transform the site into flats, but incomplete works meant residential use was never established. Consequently, planning rules still deemed it a hotel, allowing the serviced apartment application to proceed. Councillors weighed local objections against policy compliance, ultimately finding insufficient grounds for refusal.

Why did locals object to the plans?

Several residents and the local community council voiced strong opposition, advocating for the site’s conversion into permanent flats rather than short-term serviced apartments. They highlighted the terrace’s mixed character on Claremont Crescent, comprising residential flats alongside office space for the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre, which supports survivors of sexual violence.

Objections centred on potential disruptions from transient guests in a quiet, sensitive neighbourhood. The community council argued that serviced apartments could exacerbate amenity issues, given the proximity to residential homes and a vital support service. These concerns echoed through public submissions, urging adherence to the developers’ prior flats proposal.

What concerns did Green councillor Ben Parker raise?

Green councillor Ben Parker opposed the application, emphasising the site’s delicate context. As quoted in The National, Cllr Parker stated:

“I think the changes we are looking at do introduce an additional level of concern when it comes to amenity. And given the sensitive setting of this site, not just in terms of residential but the nature of the operations in the area, I think that we do need to think quite seriously how appropriate it is to facilitate this change in planning terms.”​

His remarks underscored fears over noise, privacy, and compatibility with the Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre’s work. Cllr Parker argued that introducing serviced lets risked undermining the area’s residential tranquillity, particularly amid existing community sensitivities.

How did SNP councillor David Key justify approval?

SNP councillor David Key supported the permission despite personal reservations about residential use. According to The National’s coverage, Cllr Key remarked:

“My heart is with the idea it should be turned back into residential, but my planning head says it is quite straightforward in this case I’m afraid.”

He acknowledged locals’ preferences but prioritised planning policy, noting the application’s compliance after the hotel status lapsed without flat conversion. This balanced stance reflected the committee’s broader dilemma between community wishes and legal frameworks.

What was convener Hal Osler’s position?

Convener and Liberal Democrat councillor Hal Osler expressed empathy for objectors while affirming the council’s constraints. As reported by The National, Cllr Osler said:

“I fully appreciate and understand the concerns of individuals. I think we have to be thoughtful as to what is within our gift to do and not within our gift to do.”

His comments highlighted the sub-committee’s limited remit, bound by material planning considerations rather than aspirational residential goals. Cllr Osler urged realism, recognising the decision’s finality despite regrets.

Why might serviced apartments be less disruptive?

Multiple councillors observed that the new setup could prove less intensive than the hotel’s heyday. The proposals eliminate the former bar and amenity spaces, reducing evening disturbances, while capping guests at 28 versus the hotel’s 50 capacity.

This comparison swayed undecided members, positioning serviced apartments as a pragmatic middle ground. With fewer occupants and no public facilities, impacts on neighbours and the Rape Crisis Centre might diminish compared to past operations.

What is the background of the Claremont Hotel site?

Nestled in Canonmills, the property forms part of a historic terrace on Claremont Crescent, blending homes, offices, and now adaptive reuse. The Claremont Hotel served visitors until 2022, contributing to Edinburgh’s tourism but closing amid market shifts.

Developers S1’s pivot from flats to serviced lets responds to commercial demands, leveraging the site’s established visitor accommodation status. The Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre’s adjacency amplifies scrutiny, as its confidential services demand discretion.

How does this fit Edinburgh’s planning trends?

Edinburgh Council frequently navigates tensions between housing needs and short-term lets in tourist hotspots. Similar conversions have sparked debates citywide, with policies tightening on Airbnb-style operations to preserve residential stock.

This approval aligns with rules allowing serviced apartments where prior visitor use persists, but it fuels calls for reform. Community councils across the city watch closely, fearing precedents for other hotels.

What happens next for the development?

With permission secured, S1 can commence works promptly, subject to standard conditions on noise and operations. Serviced apartments typically cater to business travellers, offering flexibility absent in permanent flats.

Monitoring will ensure compliance, particularly occupancy limits and amenity removals. Locals retain rights to challenge via enforcement if issues arise.

Could the decision be overturned?

Objectors hold limited recourse post-approval, absent material breaches. Appeals to the Scottish Government’s Reporter would require strong grounds, unlikely given the vote’s policy basis.

Councillors’ sympathy suggests future applications might face stricter scrutiny, but this site’s hotel legacy proved decisive. The six-to-four margin underscores divisions, potentially informing council guidelines.

Broader implications for Canonmills?

Canonmills, a vibrant yet residential enclave near Edinburgh’s New Town, balances heritage with modernity. This conversion sustains economic activity while testing community resilience near support services.

The Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre welcomed no direct comment in reports, but its presence looms large. Neighbours anticipate managed impacts, eyeing enforcement for accountability.