Mixed-use complex in Edinburgh’s financial district approved in principle

A £150 million hotel and office complex next to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre is expected to be given the green light after a series of alterations were made to the initial proposals.Known as Exchange 2, the development on the western side of the West Approach Road will include a four-star business hotel with up to 400 rooms and a catering academy and hotel training school intended to provide jobs and training for 200 young people.Three separate new buildings are involved and part of the development will mean building on top of an existing electricity substation. The scheme would retain the B-listed façade of the three-storey Scottish Power office building in Dewar Place.Catalyst Capital is funding the project, which is being proposed by a consortium including Duddingston House Properties, the developer behind plans to turn the old Royal High School into a luxury hotel, and designed by JM Architects.The catering academy is to be run in conjunction with Queen Margaret University and the hotel training school with Edinburgh Napier University.