Israel's Leonardo Hotels checking into Edinburgh

Leonardo Hotels, the European arm of Israel's Fattal Hotels, is spearheading a £65-million development in Edinburgh of the India Buildings into a hotel. A planning application for the 235-room hotel was submitted, with work set to begin as early as next summer. The hotel would be expected to be completed by the end of 2017.

If given the go-ahead, it would be Leonardo Hotels second hotel in the UK after a property at Heathrow Airport.

Jansons Property wil be the developer.

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Built in the 19th century, the A-listed India Buildings boast a range of original features. According to Edinburgh News, the new plans would retain most of these details  and would see the building brought back into full-time use for the first time in more than ten years.

Meanwhile, local heritage groups and community leaders aren't as enthusiastic, calling the proposals a “monstrosity.”

Andy Jansons, managing director of Jansons Property, said the company was “determined to make sure that these proposals transform this fantastic area of the city centre.”