Edinburgh's historic former Royal High School is set to receive a new lease of life under plans for a major £35m redevelopment announced by the local authority.

The City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) has revealed that the A-listed building on Calton Hill is set to be transformed into a new arts hotel, including a restaurant, a café and a public gallery space as part of the proposals. Duddington House Properties (DHP) has been selected by the council to work on the scheme, working alongside Gareth Hoskins Architects and Castle Hotel Management Company to rejuvenate the historic school site.

CEC leader Jenny Dawe said: "The development will form an integral part of the City's String of Pearls project to bring new life to the city centre and I very much look forward to seeing the proposed designs, which will allow this wonderful building to be brought respectfully into the 21st century. "Arts hotels have proved themselves to be extremely popular in major cities around the world and this development will bring much needed additional hotel capacity to the city, while complementing Edinburgh's unique cultural offering."

The council has confirmed that a 10-day standstill period between notifying its intention to award DHP with the contract and the actual completion of the deal has now started in accordance with European Procurement Regulation.