£30m vision to transform Royal Highland Centre gets the go-ahead

Published on Wednesday 27 April 2011 23:16

ORGANISERS of Scotland's biggest agricultural showpiece were celebrating last night after a 20-year masterplan to transform the home of the event was given the green light.

A 30 million revamp, work on which is due to start within months, will transform the Royal Highland Centre, near Edinburgh Airport, into a "world class exhibition and event venue", its backers have claimed.

Councillors approved the project, which had won the backing of planning officials and executives at nearby Edinburgh Airport, at a hearing yesterday.

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, (RHASS) which runs the complex and stages, said the improvements would help the organisation bid for a host of major events for the first time.

The blueprint will see the showground expand to the east over the next few years, while huge improvements are planned to the existing site, including a brand new main entrance.

A new major exhibition hall, an agricultural centre of excellence and new main pavilion overlooking the showground arena are among the highlights in the vision, while other improvements include offices, conference facilities, and two hotels.

The Royal Highland Show is held over four days every June, attracting an average audience of 175,000 in recent years, and generating some 75m to the economy.

The event, which dates back to 1822, has been based at its current home at Ingliston since 1960. However the site's future was thrown into doubt ten years ago over fears that Edinburgh Airport would need part of the existing site for its own expansion plans.

The society spent several years drawing up plans to relocate to an alternative site, only for airport owner BAA to pull out of negotiations to pay for the move, claiming it did need the land for at least another 20 years.

Stephen Hutt, chief executive of RHASS, said: "We are already well established as a top-class venue but this will take us to a new level.

"The potential here is unlimited and being adjacent to an international airport and on the fringe of the capital city our vision is to be part of the gateway to Scotland.

"A lot of effort has gone into getting to this stage and we now anticipate an early start to progressing the plans."

The first major development to be completed will be a 165-bedroom hotel, which is due to open next year, next to Eastfield Road, close to where a new boulevard will be created, leading to the revamped entranceway to the arena.

Allan Murray, project manager for the development, said: "The decision to allow us to proceed represents an exciting milestone for the society."It has been a long process but now that we are there, we can plan ahead with confidence over the next twenty years.

"We believe the new developments will help us attract even more prestigious events to the centre."

Tom Buchanan, economic development leader at the city council, said: "The hugely important thing for a facility like this is that it does not stand still.

"I'm delighted the centre is going to be refurbished and I'm sure the work will allow it to attract many more exhibitions, events and conferences to the city."