Union Hanover Securities gets consent for landmark urban Villa Hotel (SCO)

Union Hanover Securities has been given Minded to Grant planning permission for a £35 mln (approx. €47 mln) Urban Villa boutique hotel by the Union Canal Basin in Edinburgh.
The 180-room hotel on Freer Street has been designed by award-winning New York-based architect Grzywinski + Pons with Edinburgh-based Michael Laird Architects.
Urban Villa is a boutique all-suites hotel concept. Besides a bedroom and bathroom, suites include a kitchen and living room that can be transformed to accommodate either business travellers or families.
The Edinburgh hotel will contain 179 Executive Villas (Studios), 11 Master Villas (1 beds) and 4 RockStar Villa’s (2 bed penthouses overlooking the union canal basin with views over the castle), 24 hour reception/concierge, lounge and restaurant facilities, gym and other guest amenities. With considerable frontage on the canal, it will also offer al fresco dining.
Union Hanover managing director Eric Jafari said: “This hotel is a benchmark asset for us. Edinburgh is second only to London in potential for our Urban Villa brand with its mix of corporate and leisure travel.
Union Hanover is also set to bring the concept to a site in Aberdeen.
Source: Union Hanover Securities