Serviced apartment conversion proposed for 7 Palmerston Place

A listed townhouse on Palmerston Place in Edinburgh’s West End could change from office use to serviced apartments under a new planning application now with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The proposal concerns 7 Palmerston Place, EH12 5AH, a property close to the city centre in an area known for its mix of traditional townhouses, professional offices, homes, hotels and short-stay accommodation. The application seeks listed building consent for internal alterations to support the change of use from offices to serviced apartments.

The external impact appears limited from the application description. The main change would be inside the building, where the townhouse would be reworked to accommodate the proposed serviced apartment use.

What is proposed

The application is for internal alterations at 7 Palmerston Place to allow the building to move from office use to serviced apartments.

In practical terms, that points to a change in how the property is occupied and managed. Instead of being used as offices, the building would be adapted for short-stay residential-style accommodation, typically used by visitors, business travellers or people needing temporary accommodation in the city.

The application is a listed building consent case, which means the council will consider the effect of the proposed works on the character and special interest of the listed building. Listed building consent is separate from ordinary planning permission, although in many projects the two can overlap depending on the nature of the works and the change of use.

The proposal recorded for this case is focused on internal works. No major external redevelopment, demolition or new-build extension is described in the application summary.

The site: 7 Palmerston Place

Palmerston Place sits in Edinburgh’s West End, west of the main city centre and near key routes linking Haymarket, the West End and the wider New Town area.

The street has a strong historic character and includes substantial stone townhouses, many of which have seen different uses over time. In this part of Edinburgh, former residential buildings are often occupied by offices, professional services, hospitality uses, religious and institutional uses, and accommodation businesses.

Number 7 is described in the planning record as a listed building. That status matters because internal changes can be important, not just external ones. Staircases, room layouts, decorative plasterwork, doors, fireplaces and other historic features can all form part of a building’s special interest, depending on what survives inside.

For neighbours and local businesses, the key issue is not a large visible construction project but a possible shift in day-to-day use: from workplace activity to serviced apartment occupation.

Why it matters

The application is worth watching because it reflects a wider pattern in central Edinburgh: older townhouses moving between office, residential, visitor accommodation and mixed commercial uses.

A conversion from offices to serviced apartments can affect a street in several ways. It may change patterns of arrivals and departures, servicing, cleaning, waste collection and late-evening activity. It can also affect the balance between employment space and visitor accommodation in an area that already plays several roles in the city economy.

For the building itself, the listed status adds another layer of scrutiny. The council will need to assess whether the internal alterations preserve the character and special architectural or historic interest of the property. That assessment is likely to focus on the detailed drawings and any supporting heritage information submitted with the application.

For nearby residents, the most relevant questions are likely to be practical ones: how the building would be accessed, how the serviced apartments would be managed, how refuse and servicing would work, and whether any internal changes affect the historic fabric of the townhouse.

For local businesses and investors, the case is another sign of continuing demand for flexible visitor accommodation in and around the West End, while also raising the familiar issue of how much central property should remain in office use.

What happens next

The application is currently marked as awaiting assessment by the City of Edinburgh Council. That means the council has not issued a decision.

Planning officers will review the proposal against relevant planning and heritage policies, with particular attention to the listed building implications. Public comments, consultee responses and any amendments may also form part of the process before a decision is made.

Anyone who wants to inspect the drawings or follow the case can search the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal using the address or reference number.

The planning reference is 26/02349/LBC.