Plans to build a series of floating hotel boats on the Union Canal in Edinburgh have led to hundreds of objections.

A company called The Edinburgh Boatel wants to moor five hotel boats on the canal just opposite Boroughmuir High School in Fountainbridge. 

So far almost 400 objections to the scheme have been lodged, with Edinburgh council due to rule on the proposal at a later date.

Fountainbridge councillor Gavin Corbett says some locals are concerned the floating hotels will turn into "party boats", brining with them similar problems as Airbnb flats.

Separate applications for a further seven hotel boats are due to be submitted later.

Architects' view of the site

The application says: "The Scottish Canals ‘Moorings Site Options Appraisal’ report allocates twelve mooring sites for new Boat Hotels.

"This application represents the first of three applications for sites along the Union Canal.

"The other two sites will be the north bank opposite Lower Gilmore Place (5 boats) and at Lochrin Basin itself (2 boats)."

The applicants say they will discourage group bookings and the boats will be for "the peaceful enjoyment of our customers / guests."

Cllr Corbett wrote a blog where he said the "boatels" may prove problematic with the nearby high school.

Design for the boat hotels

The Green councillor said: "I know some people are concerned about 'party boats' and the canal becoming an extension of the short term lets explosion.

"I can fully understand that in the context of the area where far too many flats within tenements and even new blocks are being lost from residential use and into a poorly-managed and unregulated 'AirBnB' sector.

"Although living in canal boats is a very welcome residential choice for some people, I don’t think it’s a mainstream choice in quite the same way as for tenements and therefore the read-over from the short term lets crisis generally is not a perfect one, in my view."

There is already a "boatel" on the Union Canal, though it is on a much smaller scale than the one planned by The Edinburgh Boatel.


The Four Sisters Boatel is moored further along the canal and consists of a single barge.

Cllr Corbett continued: "In other words, at a modest scale, properly-let and well-managed (as with the Four Sisters Boatel) I can see hotel boats as part of a mix of canal uses.

"The moorings being leased rather than sold should allow a degree of control not so readily available in flats and Scottish Canals could and should be absolutely ruthless in stamping out uses like party boats or stag/hen boats which are quite at odds with the strategy for the Fountainbridge area."

For more news  like our Facebook page   or follow us on Twitter.
