Fire guts former Debenhams building on Edinburgh's Princes Street, heritage bodies demand restoration

Fire breaks out in early hours

At 2.52am on Thursday, emergency services were called to a fire at the former Debenhams department store on Princes Street. Fire crews began battling the blaze around 3am. By 6.45am, seven fire engines and three specialist appliances were on the scene. Photographs showed the upper floors well alight, but by morning the flames had been brought under control. No injuries were reported.

Building's history and significance

The B-listed building, once part of the Palace Hotel and later the Liberal Club, was designed by architect John Lessels. It housed Debenhams until the store closed in May 2021 following another fire. The site is owned by Criterion Capital, headed by billionaire Asif Aziz, who planned to convert it into a Zedwell hotel, the first in Scotland. A planning application for a false façade with an advertising screen was submitted in March.

Heritage bodies demand restoration

Edinburgh World Heritage called the fire one of the "greatest threats" to the city's listed buildings. A spokesperson said it was "imperative to stabilise and retain as much fabric as possible" and that no action should be taken until an investigation. The Cockburn Association's James Garry stressed that the building contributes to Edinburgh's identity and that a thorough assessment of surviving fabric is needed before irreversible decisions.

The visual impact of the total loss of this building on the World Heritage Site cannot be under-estimated. EWH calls for the damaged listed building to be fully restored if possible.

This is one of Edinburgh's defining civic spaces and forms part of the city's World Heritage Site. Buildings like this contribute not only to Edinburgh's distinctive skyline but also to its identity and sense of place.

Residents react with sadness

Passers-by expressed dismay. Graham Reed, 59, called it "an iconic building" and lamented that another Princes Street landmark had gone up in flames, referencing the Jenners fire a few years back. Daniel Artur Woda noticed black smoke around 3.40am and said emergency crews were already on site. Sotirs, 36, said he felt sad because such classic buildings make the city more beautiful.

It's such a shame. It's an iconic building, and it's such a shame that yet another one's gone up in flames on Princes Street.

Transport disrupted, investigation launched

Large parts of Princes Street were cordoned off. Tram services were limited to the Edinburgh Airport–West End section, with ticket acceptance on ScotRail and Lothian Buses. Bus routes were diverted. Police and fire services have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.