Only two Category ‘A’ listed buildings will remain ‘at risk’ in Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site once current or planned restoration work is complete – down 14 from a decade ago – according to new figures released today by the City of Edinburgh Council.
image: Fiona Newton
… The buildings…. have been repaired, refurbished and brought back into public use, following long periods lying vacant…
Scottish Construction Now writes:
In 2012, there were 16 Category ‘A’ listed buildings on the Buildings at Risk Register (BARR), which has been maintained by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) since 1990.
The buildings, which are deemed to be of ‘international significance’ and include Riddle’s Court, Acheson House and the former Donaldson’s School for the Deaf, have been repaired, refurbished and brought back into public use, following long periods lying vacant…
Planning convener Neil Gardiner said: “We work extremely hard with our partners, including Edinburgh World Heritage and Historic Environment Scotland to protect our historic built environment, and with owners to support them to find the best outcome for their properties.
“Over the last ten years, we’ve helped developers make the best and most sympathetic use of many of our globally significant and architecturally stunning buildings so they can be enjoyed now and for future generations to come….”….
A spokesperson for Edinburgh World Heritage said: “It is welcome news that so many of the city’s ‘at risk’ buildings have been conserved and given a new lease of life in order to benefit Edinburgh’s people, institutions and economy…”….
.. Full list of buildings in the World Heritage Site currently being worked on and those restored and brought back to life in the last ten years:
- The Old Royal High School is to become a music school
- India Buildings on Victoria Street will shortly reopen as a hotel
- The City Observatory is now an art gallery for contemporary art
- The former Donaldson’s School for the Deaf, including the gate lodges, has been restored and transformed into housing
- Riddle’s Court in the Lawnmarket is now the headquarters of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust
- Acheson House is home to Edinburgh World Heritage
- Panmure House is now Heriot Watt’s Edinburgh Business school
- Upper floors of 30 Princes Street, including the gilded globe roof sculpture of the former Forsyth’s department store, are now a hotel
- 27 and 29-31 Melville Street has been turned into offices
- 9 Rutland Square has been brought back into residential use
- 26 Heriot Row has been brought back into residential use
- 8 Blenheim Place has been brought back into residential use
- 1-3 Baxter’s Place is now a hotel
- 42 St Andrew Square is now the Edinburgh Grand, a luxury all-apartment residence.
