UK: A planning application has been submitted to transform a vacant office building in Edinburgh Park into a new 113-room aparthotel, as demand for traditional commercial space in the area continues to decline.Â
The application, submitted by the Scottish property developer W Gardner-Young, outlines plans to convert the 56,655 square-foot building at 8 Lochside Avenue, formerly used by Lloyds Banking Group, into an aparthotel.
The four-storey property, vacant since 2023, was purchased earlier this year and is located in Edinburgh’s Gyle business district.
Under the plans, the building will be reconfigured into 113 self-contained studio rooms, each featuring en-suite bathrooms, kitchenette facilities, double beds, TVs and storage space, designed in line with Best Western standards.
Proposed communal amenities include a reception area, meeting and business suite, gym, laundry and a breakfast area with vending options.
No major structural changes are proposed, with minimal additions including seven new windows and two roof lights. Existing fire safety and sound insulation elements will be upgraded to current technical standards.
The applicant claims the project is in line with sustainable design principles, focusing on adaptive reuse of the building’s existing components, including its partitions, windows and façade, to conserve embodied energy.
The development would be car-free, apart from a small number of electric vehicle spaces reserved for accessible parking. Landscaping improvements are also planned, including the restoration of overgrown hedges and communal green areas.
In planning documents, the applicant said the scheme “offers a positive opportunity to reuse a building falling into disrepair” and “supports the city’s tourism sector while meeting policy goals to reduce car dependency and promote more sustainable land use.”
The City of Edinburgh Council must decide on the application by 19 September 2025.
Highlights:
• A former office block in Edinburgh’s Gyle business district has been proposed for conversion into 113 serviced apartments.
• Wayne Gardner‑Young, founder of WGY Group, submitted the planning application.
• Rooms would feature en-suite bathrooms, kitchenette facilities, double beds, TVs and storage space, designed in line with Best Western standards.
