3DReid and Hunter REIM secures Planning Consent for the new £100 million Ruby Hotel on Edinburgh’s Princes Street. The approved 347-bedroom hotel development is set to open in 2026 with the Princes Street site becoming the first Ruby Hotel in Scotland.
In addition to the proposed 347 bedrooms across seven floors, there is also a bar and rooftop terrace with panoramic views, restaurant, and retail units within the 5,000 sqm space at 104-108 Princes Street.
The proposal successfully integrates the historic and new build components, improving the historic aspects of the site, its relationship to Princes Street, and impact on the wider views within the townscape.
The design approach preserves the significant elements of the historic buildings at 104-105 and 106 and ensure their prominence within the development. The enhanced shopfronts to each of the historic buildings are proposed as a means of increasing their contribution to Princes Street.
The new building at 108, references the scale and height of 104-105 to frame 106 within the development site, provides a considered intervention to the Block and integrates with the adjoining historic buildings to deliver the client’s aspirations.
The Ruby Hotel Edinburgh represents one of the biggest-ever investments on Princes Street since the Johnnie Walker Experience opened in 2021.
The Munich-based Ruby Hotel group has partnered with Scottish real estate investment management company Hunter REIM for the development along with the wider design team which includes 3DReid, Turley, PMP, Atkins, Wallace Whittle, Jensen Hughes, Sweco, Net Positive Solutions and Sharps Redmore.
Andrew Moffat, managing director of Hunter REIM, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to get the go ahead for the Ruby Hotel proposals. Developing in a world heritage site is always challenging, but we are confident that this will be a transformational development for Princes Street, and particularly for the western end of the street which has struggled in recent years. We look forward to continuing to work with the council, Ruby Hotels and local stakeholders to create a development of which everyone will be proud.”
Julian Mors, Group Director Development at Ruby, added: “The hotel market in Edinburgh has proven to be very robust in the past, shows sustainable growth and offers a lot of potential for our concept, especially in the affordable luxury segment. We are very excited to enter the Scottish market with this great project.”
Roddy Smith, chief executive of Essential Edinburgh, said: “This is a hugely important development for Princes Street and for Edinburgh. With the adjacent development stalling the city needs to keep up the momentum in the Princes Street area and continue the flow of investment in this most famous of streets. These proposals are a huge improvement for Princes Street – and I am sure will encourage more investment to come forward.”
Ruby Group already operates 15 Ruby hotels across Amsterdam, Florence and Munich, with a further 19 hotels under construction or in the planning phase, including Princes Street in Edinburgh, their first Scottish location.
