DLA Piper has advised leading property developers, Jansons Property (Jansons), on the development and sale of the iconic India Buildings site located in Edinburgh Old Town, which is to be developed for luxury lifestyle hotel brand Virgin Hotels. All parties agreed to keep the transaction value undisclosed.

Located moments away from the Edinburgh's Royal Mile and Castle, the 225-room high-end hotel, set to open in 2020, will offer a distinctive and dynamic addition to the city, offering drinking and dining outlets and a wide range of events. This deal marks Virgin Hotel's first opening within the United Kingdom, with more European projects anticipated to follow.

Jansons Property specialises in student accommodation, residential, hotel, industrial, mixed-used properties and air-rights development. Virgin Hotels is a brand launched by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group in 2010. It has one hotel in Chicago, with openings in New York, Dallas, New Orleans, Nashville, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Palm Springs planned for the near future.

DLA Piper assisted Jansons on real estate matters arising from the project including the acquisition of the hotel site from different parties, detailed planning advice around a high profile judicial review, and the development and disposal. DLA Piper has a longstanding client relationship with Jansons.

Real Estate partner Steven Edgecombe commented, "We are delighted to have advised Jansons on this landmark project, which it is hoped will provide a significant boost to the local economy. The project entailed challenges unique to a complex site sitting within the heart of a UNESCO world heritage location. Its successful completion reflects the highly effective collaboration amongst many different partners and agencies."

The DLA Piper Real Estate team in Edinburgh was led by partner Steven Edgecombe, supported by partner Sandy Telfer, senior associate Scott Ferrier and Litigation and Regulatory associate Rebecca Roberts.