Princes Street in central Edinburgh will remain closed into the city’s busy festival period after a major fire at the disused former Debenhams building, the City of Edinburgh Council has confirmed.
Safety work to protect building’s historic features
Fire crews attended the blaze in the early hours of last Thursday and remained on site until Friday. Council engineers are now undertaking what officials described as a painstaking process to make the B‑listed structure safe while attempting to preserve as many of its historic elements as possible.
The council has kept a section of Princes Street closed to both vehicles and pedestrians between Frederick Street and South Charlotte Street. Diversions are in place and are expected to stay for several weeks, with transport adjustments running into August.
“Our priority must be on the safety of the public… This is a painstaking process and will take time,” the council leader said, adding that officials were working to limit disruption while the city enters its busiest period of the year.
Transport changes and festival planning
To maintain movement across the city centre, the council has issued temporary routing changes for public transport:
- Buses have been rerouted onto George Street and Queen Street.
- Trams to and from the airport will terminate at Shandwick Place in the West End.
- Pedestrian access through the closed stretch of Princes Street is not permitted; clearly signed diversions are in place.
Officials have said they are coordinating with bus and tram operators, festival organisers and event teams to reduce the impact on performances, parades and visitor access. A dedicated page on the council website will provide regular updates as the situation develops.
| Affected route or area | Temporary change |
|---|---|
| Princes Street (Frederick St to South Charlotte St) | Closed to vehicles and pedestrians |
| Bus services | Rerouted via George Street and Queen Street |
| Tram services | Terminating at Shandwick Place (no airport through service) |
What visitors and residents should know
The council has urged anyone travelling into the city centre over the coming weeks — whether for work, shopping or festival events — to check travel information before setting out and to allow extra time for journeys. Officials also warned of potential changes to pedestrian routes near theatre and concert venues that line or face Princes Street.
While the closure is expected to persist during much of the festival season, the council emphasised it is an "ever‑changing situation" and promised further updates as new information becomes available. Local leaders thanked the public for their patience and said they remain determined that the city can still host a successful summer of events despite the disruption.
Travel updates and safety notices will be published through the council’s dedicated online page and on the channels of local transport operators.
