“A bold mixed-use redevelopment of one tired corner of Edinburgh’s St. Andrew’s Square has been approved by city planners.

The former building of Scottish Provident faces selective demolition, preservation of two listed frontages, and creation of a new complex of shops and offices, with a small number of high value apartments. In commercial terms, the most exciting element is the provision of 70,000 sq ft of large retail floor plates and double-height shop fronts which are in desperately short supply in the city centre.

Construction work on the new building is expected to be completed by 2010.