PLANS to transform the former Royal High School in Edinburgh into a luxury hotel have been rejected by ministers.

Revised proposals to redevelop the 19th-century A-listed building were rejected by city councillors in August 2017.

Duddingston House Properties and Urbanist Hotels, co-investors and developers behind the revised Rosewood Hotel scheme, then lodged an appeal with the Scottish Government which stalled progress with the building.

Ministers have now deemed the proposals would cause “considerable damage to the setting of one of the most important neoclassical buildings in the city” and rejected the appeal.

Kevin Stewart, minister for planning, said: “Scottish ministers have refused planning permission and listed building consent for two schemes for the conversion of the former Royal High School in Edinburgh to a hotel, in view of the proposals’ adverse effects on the historic environment.

“This follows the consideration of the appeals by independent reporters appointed by ministers.

“The appeals were considered by means of inquiry and hearing sessions in September and October 2018.

“In reaching their decisions, ministers carefully considered all the evidence presented and the reporters’ conclusions and recommendations.”

READ MORE: AUOB: Protest planned against Drummossie Muir 'holiday village' development

The property was built by Thomas Hamilton in 1829 and is owned by the local authority, but has been largely unused since the school moved out in 1968.

Under the rejected plans, parts of the building would be demolished and extensions would be added to the site.

A Scottish Government report into the plans found views of the building would be “spoiled by the overwhelming scale” by the proposed development.

Ministers agreed with these findings and also that the extensions would appear “overbearing, urbanising and out of context” as well as becoming a “distraction” in views of the principal Hamilton building and “harmful to its setting”.

Since 2015, the Royal High School Preservation Trust and St Mary’s Music School have taken a conservation-led approach to saving the iconic building. They hope to restore the building as the new home for an expanded national music school.

William Gray Muir, chairman of the Royal High School Preservation Trust, said: “Scottish ministers should be congratulated on this considered and sensible decision. Their recognition of the importance of the building reinforces our belief that it is the perfect place for Scotland’s national music school. Doing so will bring together two of Scotland’s national treasures.

“We hope that the City Council will now be in a position discuss how we can jointly make this happen. With their agreement we would be able to start work immediately.”