September 25 2018

EMA Architecture and Design have tabled plans for the partial demolition of the Castle Venlaw Hotel, Peebles, as part of a wider programme of refurbishment and extension over a former store.

The proposed work will see the bulk of the gothic hotel converted to eight apartments with a further three modern town houses built alongside, helping to pay for the refurbishment work and return the mansion to residential use.

In a statement the architects wrote: “The first townhouse block reflects the line of the existing building, with subsequent blocks stepping to preserve the tree line to the north of the site

“Recessed entrances and terraced areas create depth and interest to the façade. Glazed boxes create definition between the townhouses and creates a verticality to the design.”

New build elements will be built from stone with a lightweight upper level finished in zinc.

9 Comments

#1 Posted by SyleCouncil on 25 Sep 2018 at 12:44 PM

That is an alarmingly bad response to site and context. Why pin a short row of townhouses- an urban housetype- to a rural gothic villa!?

#2 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 25 Sep 2018 at 16:28 PM

It's just an updated version of the conversion of the former Loch Lomond Castle Hotel to flats and terraced houses which after 18 years still look decidedly out of place

#3 Posted by John Sloggie on 27 Sep 2018 at 14:15 PM

What a shame this beautiful hotel is being converted. In the application it states that it is clear that the property is not viable as a business. That is just smokescreen. Castle Venlaw has the potential to be once again a very profitable business as it was when I sold it in 2007.

#4 Posted by Pleasantfield on 27 Sep 2018 at 20:17 PM

I am starting to get really worried about the architecture profession. They seem to only think in cubes and rectangles. The return of cubism????

#5 Posted by Charles Cormack on 28 Sep 2018 at 11:01 AM

This is so ugly, it can't be allowed. I ran Cringletie House Hotel for a number of years, and the time John Slogie, who has commented ran Venlaw. he is correct Venlaw if properly run can be successful as it was when he ran it. The previous owners closed it most of the week and would not allow young people in, they were obviously trying to make it fail, with the intention of turning it into housing.

#6 Posted by Matthew Bartlett on 28 Sep 2018 at 11:13 AM

Talk about uninspiring architecture and here it is. I bought the property down from this on the understanding that the planning permission for this had been blocked at every turn. How is this now going ahead? Disgusted!! I agree the viability of this as a business or non-viability is indeed a smokescreen.

#7 Posted by David Mcfarlane on 28 Sep 2018 at 16:18 PM

If they give permission for this the field in front will be next the owners closed the hotel from October to March and then only opened Thursday to Sunday the other six months no intention of running the business

#8 Posted by Colin McLean on 28 Sep 2018 at 21:07 PM

Presumably “has tabled plans” means has applied for planning consent, so the usual process and opportunity for consultation will follow.

#9 Posted by buzzthedog on 4 Oct 2018 at 21:29 PM

Oh dear - what an architectural faux pas. This really is an embarrassment to the profession.

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