Edinburgh’s Royal High School to become ‘£55M national centre for music’

buildingsThe former Royal High School building in Edinburgh is to be transformed into a £55 million national centre for music after the City of Edinburgh Council agreed to the lease of the historic property.

image: Cockburn Association

… ambitions evolved into a vision for a new National Centre for Music with clearly defined spaces for classical music education, community access…

Scottish Construction Now writes (7 Oct 2021):

Councillors on the Finance and Resources Committee today approved a proposal by the Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT) for a long lease of the property.

Submitted in response to the council’s search for a long-term use for the old Royal High School, the RHSPT put forward new detailed proposals for the restoration of the iconic Thomas Hamilton building on Calton Hill as a “world-class centre for music education and public performance for the benefit of the whole of Scotland”.

The Trust said its ambitions evolved into a vision for a new National Centre for Music with clearly defined spaces for classical music education, community access and engagement and performance.

 

St Mary’s Music School, which received unanimous planning approval by Edinburgh councillors in 2016, remains at the heart of the proposal. In addition, the proposals include a café, gallery and visitor centre, set in generous and fully accessible public gardens.

…According to committee papers, the Trust will pay an initial £1.5m to secure the 125-year lease agreement, with a £1 per annum charge every year thereafter.

Read more….

For more background see Scottish Construction Now articles HERE and HERE

This entry was posted in Sector NewsBlog. Bookmark the permalink.