Plans to develop a new 300 bedroom hotel one one of Edinburgh's busiest shopping streets has been met with a positive reaction from locals.
Ruby Hotels have submitted the hotel plans to Edinburgh City Council. The plan is to repurpose the empty retail units which are located right in the middle of Princes Street, previously home to Next, Zara and Russell and Bromley alongside the spaces above the former shops.
This comes after many worries from many residents about the future of Princes Street due to the amount of shops that closed due to the pandemic and relocating to the St James Quarter.
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Alongside the hundreds of bedrooms, the hotel will have astonishing views of the castle and a snazzy rooftop bar.
At Edinburgh Live, we spoke to locals on Princes Street about the new proposals.
Silverknowes resident, 50-year-old, Ruby Hamilton was with her daughter walking down Princes Street, she said: "I think it would be great if it brings people back to the city centre."
"The decimation of Princes Street is due to not allowing traffic, parking being too high and it is really sad and I think it might encourage more businesses to come back to the area."
Ian Mcginty, 70, Dalkeith resident, said: "Well it is better that a hotel is there than it being empty."
70 year-old, Maggie Reid, has lived in Edinburgh all of her life and said: "It would be good for tourists, they are right on Princes Street so it would be busy."
"All the shops are closing down, if you go along the other end of Princes Street there are half a dozen shops closing down. They are all up for lease or sale, I just don't think the shops will be able to stay open."
"It's just the tourists they go into all of the Scottish shops and the touristy shops but we need New Look and Next."
Dalkeith Resident, Alexandria Morris, 67, said: "I think it is a good idea, there are so many people who can't get accommodation."
"There is nothing in the centre of Edinburgh and the tourists will definitely pay to stay in that hotel but I wouldn't."
Originally from Ireland, Orla, 37, said: "It is sad when you see shop fronts closed and it is better to have something happening on the main street."
"I think it is a positive thing rather than just lots of other things that could be put here. That would be my only impulse."
The hotel group behind the plans, Ruby Hotels has a further 19 hotels under construction or in the planning stages across the United Kingdom with an expansion into Asia.
Speaking about the proposals Julian Mors, Group Director of Ruby Hotels said, “Edinburgh is one of the most vibrant tourism destinations in Europe and Ruby Hotels looks forward to creating a must visit destination for residents and visitors in the heart of the city.
"We’re delighted to be able to bring the Ruby brand of affordable luxury to Scotland’s capital."
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