Clerk of Works Employer’s Agent Quantity Surveying Hotels

Water Street

Converting a 1950s warehouse into a modern 45-room aparthotel

At a glance

Location

Edinburgh

Client

Hub

Architect

O’Donnell Brown

Status

Planning granted

Structural and Civil Engineer

Harley Haddow

MEP Consultant

Harley Haddow

Fire Engineer

Atelier 10

Main Contractor

Taylor & Fraser

Reimagining industrial heritage in the heart of Leith

Hub’s Water Street project in Leith is converting a disused 1950s red-brick warehouse, originally built as a whisky bond, into a 45-unit contemporary aparthotel. Designed by O’Donnell Brown, the scheme retains the building’s industrial character while enhancing its usability with a new fifth-floor metal-clad extension and a ground-level addition.

Sustainability is central to the design, with embodied carbon reduced through reuse of the existing structure. Opening-up works have informed structural upgrades, ensuring both conservation and performance standards are met. Set for completion in Q4 2026, the development will offer a distinctive hospitality experience rooted in Leith’s historic fabric.

Project highlights

45

unit aparthotel sheme

5

storey

1,748m2

GIA

Water Street 4
Water Street 5

Guest experience and urban integration

The aparthotel will operate with a 24/7 reception, offering both short and long-stay accommodation enhanced by modern guest facilities. Accommodation will span five floors, with selected units designed to be accessible for all users. The hotel will include shared spaces such as a guest lounge, contributing to a sense of community and comfort. A new, fully accessible entrance on the southern corner of Water Street will open into a landscaped courtyard, providing green amenity space, secure cycle storage, and screened refuse areas.

The site’s prime location near Leith’s shore and within walking distance of numerous attractions positions it as an ideal destination for both tourists and business travellers. The adjacent Donaldson’s Warehouses, a historically significant former industrial site now converted into residential use, further enriches the local context and complements the aparthotel’s character-led development strategy.

Dual function in delivery and oversight

Circle has been engaged in a Multirole capacity, acting as Quantity Surveyor, Employer’s Agent and Clerk of Works. Our involvement commenced at the feasibility stage and continued through RIBA Stage 3, where we were instrumental in guiding the project’s delivery strategy, coordinating design development, and managing cost planning. We led contract negotiations with principal contractor Taylor & Fraser, establishing a strong contractual framework that supports project clarity and accountability.

As Clerk of Works, we have provided ongoing quality assurance on-site, ensuring that construction meets both contemporary performance standards and conservation best practice. Our inspections and technical oversight have played a pivotal role in upholding the design intent, facilitating informed decision-making, and ensuring that the development retains its architectural integrity while delivering a premium guest experience.

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