A true French connection
The French have given us some pretty property terms for urban living, such as pied a terre. Literally meaning ‘a foot on the ground’, this signifies a small bolt-hole, away from one’s normal residence and usually located within a city.
however, the latest capital offering with a Gallic connection could scarcely be described as ‘compact and bijou’.
It’s the former French Consulate in Randolph Crescent, a cavernous collection of three A-Listed townhouses in one of the prime parts of edinburgh.
With the Tricolour flying over the front door, it has provided diplomatic service to Scotland’s French community as well as offering an elegant ‘endroit’ for entertaining and education through the Institut Francais d’ecosse.
Deemed surplus to requirements – the consulate has moved closer to the Royal Mile – the 31,000 square feet offers a once-in-alifetime development opportunity.
The selling agents go to great lengths to stress that the building does not come with ‘change of use’, the necessary permission required to allow the premises to be used as a residence.
But their brochure also adds: ‘It is our belief that the planning department should be generally supportive of a future change of use into residential or similar.’
Such a move would flip back to a previous chapter in the life of buildings which were originally constructed in the New Town as grand family homes, as the term ‘townhouse’ suggests.
In the 1960s, there was a vogue towards converting these homes to commercial premises, becoming insurance offices, banks and diplomatic missions.
‘Plus ca change’ and come the 21st century, more and more of these office buildings are being returned to personal domiciles.
Thankfully, the buildings retain the fabulous period pieces with which they were first designed, such as decorative cornicing, wooden floors and grand fireplaces.
They are laid out over six floors, starting with the basement and rising to the lower ground floor, ground floor, first floor, second and third floors.
Most of the stores and ancillary accommodation is located in the basement, which also includes a café and kitchen, some classrooms and two bedrooms.
Classroom accommodation makes up most of the lower ground floor and, again, you will find a couple of bedrooms, a lounge and another kitchen.
The poshest accommodation is to be found on the first floor, which houses the offices of the consul and vice-consul.
More offices are located on the second floor, while the third offers five bedrooms and a selection of lecture theatres.
The back of the buildings looks on to the spacious Dean Gardens and the Water of Leith below.
Returning this Georgian masterpiece to living accommodation would be a ‘formidable’ undertaking. Bon chance!
Offers over £4million to Patrycja Wroblewska of Rettie. Tel 0131 624 4084 or email patrycja.wroblewska@rettie.co.uk.