Edinburgh developers have submitted plans for a new leisure centre with a bowling alley, mini golf course and restaurant.
Plans would see the centre open up in Waverley Market, in the unit currently operating as Job Centre Plus. The space, which covers 1824 square metres, would include 10 lanes for bowling, a mini golf course with nine holes, four pool tables, two curling lanes, a shooting pod, and three dart boards on the lower level.
There would also be a bar area and restaurant created downstairs. On the second floor would be upwards of 20 arcade machines.
READ MORE – Edinburgh interview branded ‘excruciating’ by Good Morning Britain viewers
READ MORE – Plans for East Lothian vets to become Portuguese restaurant and takeaway
Developers say the proposal doesn’t include any external physical works that would ‘impact the significance of the New Town Conservation Area’.
Montagu Evans, who submitted the plans to the council, said: “The proposal will provide an assembly & leisure use with an associated restaurant / licensed bar in a highly accessible location adjacent to the Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, and bus stops along Princes Street and within walking distance of inner-city homes.
“Therefore, the proposal supports the 20-minute neighbourhood principle.”
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newslettersfor more headlines straight to your inbox
They continued: “City, town, local and commercial centres aims to encourage, promote and facilitate development in our city and town centres, recognising they are a national asset.
“It states that development proposals that enhance and improve the vitality and viability of city, town and local centres, including proposals that increase the mix of uses, will be supported. The proposal aligns with this policy by introducing a mix of uses (assembly & leisure with associated restaurant / licensed bar) that attract visitors into the city centre, including in the evening, to help create a vibrant and liveable place.
“The site’s locational context in a city centre is appropriate for these proposed uses. The proposal does not include any external works that would have an adverse daylight, sunlight, privacy or outlook impact on the neighbouring development.
Join Edinburgh Live’s Whatsapp Community hereand get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
“Furthermore, the subject tenancy is located in a lower-ground tenancy within a commercial setting, meaning that there are no nearby sensitive receivers that would be adversely affected by noise impacts associated with the change of use.”
Planning permission for Waverley Market was granted in 1982. In 2021, permission was granted to transform unit L23 from food and drink to financial or professional services – which saw it become Job Centre Plus.
Plans for the leisure centre are yet to be approved.