Plans for 90-Bed Aparthotel in Edinburgh New Town Spark Local Opposition
Residents of a quiet New Town street are strongly objecting to plans to convert six Georgian townhouses into a 90-bedroom aparthotel.
The proposals for 16–26 Forth Street were submitted to the council in February 2026 by Limetree Developments (West) Limited. The buildings are currently used as offices.
Why this matters locally
Forth Street is a classic, relatively peaceful residential street in the heart of the New Town World Heritage Site. Residents fear the change of use will bring constant tourist traffic, noise, and activity 24/7 — fundamentally altering the character of their neighbourhood.
What’s being proposed
The developer wants to convert the six B-listed Georgian townhouses into serviced short-term accommodation with around 90 bedrooms.
The planning statement argues that the scheme makes good use of the historic buildings through sensitive refurbishment and will contribute to the area’s regeneration.
Key details at a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 16–26 Forth Street, New Town, Edinburgh |
| Number of bedrooms | 90 |
| Developer | Limetree Developments (West) Limited |
| Current use | Offices |
| Submitted | February 2026 |
| Objections received | 74 from residents + formal objection from New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) |
Residents’ main concerns
- 24/7 operation — Up to 180 people coming and going, compared with quiet offices that empty in the evenings and at weekends.
- Narrow rear lane — Too tight for service vehicles (laundry, waste collection). Residents worry this will push traffic onto Forth Street, causing congestion, blocking the road, and creating fire-access problems.
- Heritage impact — Risk of damaging original Georgian interiors through heavy subdivision and possible removal of walls.
- Cumulative effect — Another large tourist development in the city centre risks turning the area into “a theme park” and undermining the New Town’s mixed-use, residential character.
- Housing vs tourism — At a time of housing shortage, converting employment space into visitor accommodation feels like the wrong priority.
Quotes from residents and local representatives
Diane Watters (resident): “It’s going to be a real problem if this goes ahead… The developers are going to end up changing this from being a place where people live. It’s impinging on a World Heritage Site — do they know what they’ve got here?”
Janice Donaldson (resident): “We’re awash with hotels in this area. I think we have to be careful that the city centre doesn’t become a theme park for people who have no commitment to the area.”
Peter Williamson (Chair, NTBCC): “The lane will be the access for things like laundry service and waste collection — but it’s far too narrow.”
Claire Miller (Green Councillor, City Centre ward): “Lots of residents in Forth Street have been in touch with me… I’m still hopeful that the developers will listen to residents and take on board their concerns.”
Next steps
The application is still under consideration. Residents and the community council are continuing to press their objections. Neighbouring New Town streets facing similar proposals have already begun sharing information and coordinating responses.
Our take
This is a classic New Town planning battle. While tourism is vital to Edinburgh’s economy, the cumulative impact of converting more and more employment and residential space into visitor accommodation is a legitimate concern.
The strength of local feeling — and the number of objections — shows how seriously residents take the character of their neighbourhood.