HubCap has received planning consent to convert a listed building in Edinburgh’s Thistle Street into a new aparthotel. The existing sandstone and slate building, built in 1838 and developed in phases over its lifetime, is within the New Town Conservation Area and the Edinburgh Old and New Town UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Designed by O'Donnell Brown, the new scheme for Thistle St will introduce low-impact structural solutions, and will repurpose the building, which was last used as open-plan offices arranged over five levels, into a 72-room aparthotel. This deep retrofit will greatly improve the environmental performance of the building; it will be all-electric, with the potential to be net zero operational carbon. Work is anticipated to start on site later in 2024.

HubCap is part of HUB, set up to deliver low-carbon urban living projects that repurpose commercial buildings in key UK cities.

Read more in Scottish Construction Now.