It’s in the bank for BAM

The former GAP store at 131-133 Princes Street was completely redeveloped into a prime retail property by BAM and has now attracted a major tenant as part of the transformation of the West End of this famous shopping street.

Halifax, which will occupy the ground floor of the building, selected the prime site to launch their new concept retail style units and return the brand as a high street presence in Edinburgh after a long absence. Negotiations are now underway to select an upmarket restaurant operator for the upper floors which have outlooks directly over Princes Street Gardens to the Castle.

The enabling works currently underway include the creation of fire escapes, new drainage, an enclosure for a goods lift and a new security wall, ahead of the fit-out. The bank is scheduled to open to the public in July this year.

Doug Keillor, regional director BAM Construction, said: ‘We are used to the challenges of working in this highly regulated environment and the team on site also carried out the major refurbishment works that have made 131-133 attractive to such a blue chip tenant.’

With offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, BAM has £300 million of projects in progress in Scotland, providing employment for more than 1,000 people. The company was responsible for recently refurbishing the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh and is currently developing CONNECT110NS a £50 million Grade-A office and retail development in Glasgow city-centre, which has attracted Brodies, Scotland’s largest law firm, as its first tenant. Further information is available from www.bam.co.uk

Further information: Sharon McEwan, Loop Public Relations, (0141) 354 65 42, sharonm@prbyloop.com