Numa, an emerging European hotel operator, is expanding its presence in Scotland as operator of a proposed development in Princes Street, Edinburgh.
The Berlin-based company, which earlier this year acquired the short-stay business of Native Holdings, has teamed up with GLM to redevelop the corner site at South St Andrew’s Street.
GLM has obtained listed building and planning consent for the adaptation and re-use of the building.
Formerly occupied by Forsyth’s department store and latterly by Top Shop, the upper floors of the dilapidated building will be converted to a hotel with retail at ground floor level.
Better times: how the store looked in 2019 (pic: Terry Murden)
The proposal, which has been under consideration for over two years, has received the support of Historic Environment Scotland and will help in the rejuvenation of Edinburgh’s main thoroughfare which is blighted by empty, graffiti-covered units as retailers reduce their stores estate.
A number of buildings have empty upper floors which are now being converted to hotels.
Built as R W Forsyth’s flagship store, 30-31 Princes Street was the first fully steel-framed building in Scotland, with an early use of glazed brick. Forsyth’s closed in the 1970s, and the building was sold to the Burton Group.
Forsyths
The way we were: Forsyth’s closed in the 1970s
Numa’s vision is to create a fully digital stay, meaning guests use their smartphones to check-in/out, open their room and communicate with the digital guest service team.
It has €2 billion in real estate assets under management and manages more than 7,300 rooms and apartments across 34 cities in 14 European countries. Native Places, with units in Glasgow and Edinburgh, added 800 units to the portfolio.
