Breathing New Life: First Floor Of Historic South Queensferry Building Set to Transform into Short Term Holiday Let Accommodation

Caledonian Heritable Ltd has set its sights on breathing new life into a historic building in South Queensferry, Edinburgh, with plans for a change of use that could see it transformed into short term holiday let accommodation.

The property in question, located at 36 (1F) High Street, above the Ferry Tap, boasts a rich history dating back to its construction around 1683. Originally operated as a house, it underwent transformations over the centuries, including stints as a hotel known as "The Prince of Wales" and later as "The Forth Bridge Hotel."

Despite facing challenges such as fires in 1907 and 1976, the resilient structure has endured, evolving into "The Ferry Tap," a well-known public house.

A supporting statement submitted to Edinburgh Council says that at some point the first floor was converted into offices and in 2001 a planning application was granted to change the use of the first floor from offices to dwelling house (the current First Floor Flat).

Now, Caledonian Heritable Ltd seeks to revitalise the property once more, proposing a change of use from a residential flat to short term holiday let accommodation. Remarkably, there will be no physical alterations to the building, highlighting the adaptive reuse of existing space.

A supporting planning statement says ;

"Within the Common Stairwell there are 2 other properties. The property directly above the application site addressed as 36 (2F) High Street has been used as a short term let since 2014. The property on the top floor, as far as we are aware, is a residential flat. The property is listed as Category B and is located within the Queensferry Conservation Area. The property comprises 3 Bedrooms (one bedroom with an en-suite), an open plan Kitchen / Living Room and Bathroom which is accessed from the Hall. Visitors to South Queensferry require accommodation. Without accommodation there would be significantly less visitors, which would result in less revenue being generated for the local economy.

"Short term holiday let properties are an integral and important part of servicing the tourist sector. The more popular towns like South Queensferry become the more accommodation is required.

"It should be understood that short term holiday lets make a significant contribution to the local economy by virtue of the fact that people staying in these holiday lets spend a significant amount of money, much more than local residents, in Restaurants, Bars, Shops, Tourist Attractions, such as trips out to Inchcolm Island, with its Abbey which can be used as a wedding venue."