The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Plans to convert historic ex-hotel into luxury flats
P Forthlans to transform a historic 200-yearold hotel, which sits just yards from the Bridge, have been lodged with Fife Council.
SAAS Festival Inns wants to turn the Albert Hotel in North Queensferry into four luxury flats providing spectacular views across the bridge, a World Heritage Site.
The C-listed former ninebedroom hotel, restaurant and bar in Main Street, which sits in the heart of town’s conservation area, has remained empty since it closed in 2017.
The owners say the hotel is now unviable and have submitted a proposal to transform the 19th Century building into a residential property, having already undertaken the removal of the bar and some of the floor and beams on the ground floor because of wood rot caused by damp.
Plans would involve creating three threebedroom apartments and one two-bedroom flat, all of which would include a modern balcony overlooking the waterfront and the iconic Forth Bridge, given World Heritage Site status by Unesco in 2015.
In a design statement submitted as part of the application, architects for SAAS Festival Inn said the development “provides a new lease of life to the existing listed building, transforming a currently empty and unused property in disrepair at the heart of a small town into several high-quality homes.”
It added: “In refurbishing and restoring the property, we will also protect it for the future, preventing further water ingress which has already caused damage to the ground-floor timbers.
“In effect, allowing the conversion of this property will allow it to be safeguarded for future generations at the heart of North Queensferry.”
The property was built in 1824 and pre-dates the Forth Bridge, which was completed in 1890.
The building was originally Mitchell’s Inn, named after the owner Robert Mitchell, but was later renamed the Albert Hotel in honour of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s arrival at the town pier in 1842.
Architects Mclaren, Murdoch and Hamilton, which has offices in Edinburgh and Perth, specialise in providing conversions to properties including listed buildings and those in conservation areas, having already provided the designs for the redevelopment the former Forth House factory building in Kirkcaldy.
Canadian-style coffee looks certain to be served in Dundee after a longrunning planning battle. Tim Hortons has applied for planning permission to build a drive-thru café at the New Craigie Retail Park and has been tipped for approval.
A recommendation has been made to Dundee City Council’s planning committee to approve the application, despite rejecting similar proposals last year.
Previous plans by the firm for the same site were knocked back by councillors amid concerns it would draw footfall away from the city centre, despite being recommended for approval by officers at the time.
Unlike last year’s plans, councillors have been told they can only determine some issues such as infrastructure and not whether a development of this kind is appropriate generally.
Officers said this is because a similar proposal from 2017 has already been given planning permission in principle.
The report going before the planning committee on Monday states: “This application is solely for approval of the matters specified in condition.
“All that can be considered in determining this application is the design and layout of the building and associated works.”
The report for the previous application did not contain a similar stipulation.
The reports adds the recent application is different, however Kevin Hydes, UK chief commercial officer for Tim
Hortons, said the plans were largely the same with the exception of some extra bike provision to appease Dundee Cycle Forum, the most vocal objectors.
Russell Pepper, of the Dundee Cycle Forum, said: “This is basically a reapplication which was rejected for being contrary
to the Town Centre principle.
“This rejection sent a strong message – despite planning permission in principle...the committee refused the application in acknowledgement of the climate emergency and the greater need for sustainable developments.”
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Tim Hortons filed an appeal against the original rejection with the Scottish Government, but the case is on hold during lockdown.
The restaurant is expected to bring between 35 and 40 jobs to Dundee.
Mr Hydes said they hope to have the café built and open within 12 months.
He said: “Over the last few years, there has been a recognisable shift in demand to support customers throughout all parts of the day and we believe this location will offer an environment to meet those needs.
“We invest in both city centres and drive-thru locations and will always choose sites that best serve the local community, and in this case the retail park is the most appropriate fit.”
Permission was recently granted for a Tim Hortons in Perth.