Property development company S Harrison has appointed Ogilvie Construction as the principal contractor for the development of a new 157-room hotel in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh which is currently underway.
Osborne House, currently a 1970s office building, will be transformed into a new hotel, complete with a residents’ bar, restaurant and lounge area on the ground floor and an outdoor seating terrace.
Following part demolition of the existing building, two new accommodation wings will be built to the rear, together with a new storey above the existing building.
Late last year, S Harrison announced a deal with European hotel group Meininger Hotels to operate the hotel, which is set to open in Spring 2026. Meininger Hotels currently operates 36 hotels across 26 European cities.
S Harrison acquired Osborne House in 2018 and worked with Edinburgh-based architect Comprehensive Design Architects on the transformational plans, incorporating green credentials including the retention of the majority of the existing building structure.
The building is located just West of Edinburgh city centre, a few minutes walk from Haymarket railway station and tram stop and walking distance from Princess Street. S Harrison will hold the completed investment, further strengthening the company’s property portfolio.
Andrew Wharton, from S Harrison, said: “Appointing Ogilvie Construction to deliver another landmark project in Edinburgh and seeing work start is obviously a key milestone for this development and follows several years of diligent work to secure both planning permission and the right occupier for the scheme.
“We’re now looking forward to seeing our plans progress on site over the coming months.”
S Harrison has made a substantial investment in Edinburgh in recent years and this latest hotel project follows the company delivering the landmark boutique hotel for Malmaison in the heart of Edinburgh’s New Town.
The work saw the Grade A listed Buchan House, on the North-West corner of St Andrew Square, converted into a 72-bedroom hotel complete with Malmaison’s Chez Mal Bar and Brasserie.
Grier Edmead, operations director at Ogilvie Construction, added: “We are proud to be working with S Harrison on this project which has energy-efficiency and strong sustainability credentials at the heart of its design.
“Our team brings unrivalled specialist knowledge of the hotel and leisure sector, and we look forward to successfully delivering a first-class destination in the city, making both S Harrison and Meininger Hotels’ vision for this building a reality.”