City centre Haymarket scheme set to transform derelict site

Tiger Developments has secured planning consent from Edinburgh council for its £200m city centre Haymarket scheme.

The plans include a 192-bedroom, five-star hotel, a neighbouring 245-bedroom Travelodge and 335,000ft2 of office space.

The scheme will also provide a pedestrian boulevard through the site linking Haymarket and the Exchange financial district.

Final approval is awaited from the Scottish government but work is expected to start later this year with completion expected in 2012.

John Nesbitt, managing director of Tiger Developments, said: “The Haymarket will transform a site that has remained derelict for 40 years. The project will create about 400 jobs during construction and another 1,600 following completion, while injecting £8.75m of visitor spending into Edinburgh’s economy.”

The scheme is located on the former Morrison Street goods yard, one of the last major gap sites in central Edinburgh, and is viewed as strategically important due to its proximity to the Exchange and Haymarket Station.

Edinburgh architects Richard Murphy, CDA and Sutherland Hussey were enlisted to draft the designs for the proposed development.