Towering ambition: First Minister will move house
Alex Salmond intends to move to the Governors House on Calton Hill. Pic: Dan Phillips
ALEX Salmond is set to press ahead with plans to move from his official residence in Edinburgh’s Charlotte Square to a historic building on Calton Hill.
A study into the proposed relocation to Governor’s House, a crenellated tower built for the former Calton Jail, is understood to have found the move a cheaper option than trying to overhaul Bute House to modern-day standards.
The A-listed Calton Hill mansion, owned by the Scottish Government, is lying empty, having been used as office space.
The National Trust for Scotland, which owns the First Minister’s current residence, is believed to be in talks with Historic Scotland about opening up Bute House, on the north side of Charlotte Square, to the public.
A board of trustees is responsible for Bute House and has a lucrative leasing arrangement with the government, which may be ended within two years.
However, unlike NTS’s former HQ on Charlotte Square, which was sold to an overseas property tycoon, Scotland’s equivalent of 10 Downing Street – 5 Charlotte Square – is an “inalienable” property, meaning the trust is barred from selling it.
The government yesterday referred inquiries to its heritage agency, which insisted that “saving taxpayers’ money” was key. However it insisted ministers had not made a final decision.
The trust already runs a separate visitor attraction on Charlotte Square, the Georgian House, while Edinburgh World Heritage recently moved out of a neighbouring building it was leasing from the trust.
However the heritage body said it would welcome the relocation of the First Minister’s official residence to Calton Hill as it would bring the Governor’s House back into use and, hopefully, trigger the restoration of Bute House by NTS.
The move would also boost efforts, led by the city council, to encourage a new “government quarter” between the Royal Mile and Calton Hill.
The Scotsman revealed last October that the government was facing a £3.5 million bill to overhaul Bute House, to fully restore its historic fabric, meet disability legislation and install new security measures.
One insider said: “A great deal of money is required to fully restore Bute House and the National Trust will be far better place to lead those efforts once the building is vacated.
“It makes much more sense to bring the First Minister’s official residence much closer to the Scottish Government’s existing headquarters on Regent Road. Charlotte Square is changing a great deal with the ongoing work to overhaul the trust’s old headquarters and a proper revamp of Bute House could help drive things along.”
Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said: “The relocation will help to continue the revival of the hill. While Charlotte Square will no doubt be sorry to see the First Minister leave, it remains one of the city’s architectural gems and the prestigious centre of its finance and legal sectors.”
A spokeswoman for Historic Scotland said: “Saving taxpayers’ money will be the key consideration, that is the bottom line, and the issue will be considered in detail on that basis.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy
- Rangers takeover: Duff & Phelps threaten legal action against BBC
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Rangers administration: Fans fear Duff & Phelps claims could scare off Green
- Rangers takeover: triple penalty punishment enough, says Johnston
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Scottish independence: SNP flip-flops over Nato
- Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’
- Scottish independence: Alex Salmond’s pledge to sign up 1m voters
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 123 comments to this article
Page 1 of 9
Graeme M
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 05:28 AMWell, I tell you now, this old place looks like any othe pile of stones, past its best and probably need massive refurbishment.I wonder what governor it was for previously. I wouldn't live it it, it would give me the creeps, so Alex can have it!...
Gibbo
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 08:35 PMYou Unionists are a poor excuse for would be politicians if that is incorrect then why are you so determined to rubbish Alex at every oppertunity you get, jealousy is a curse and your down right envy is pathetic, you think us Independenc brigade are fanatics you really should go back and read whay you write, Your days are numbered and you just cannot come to terms with the fact that Alex Salmond and the rest of us Independent minded Scots will have our freedom, your idiots both Tories and Labourlibdems had their chance, a couple of million for a scottish parliament building and look just how much it cost and a couple of million for an Edinburgh tram project and look at what happened to these costs, your lot could not run a RAFFLE never mind the p..ss up at the provebial brury, Just watch this space in May and see what the Scottish people think of your past endeavours to run Scotland and the state you left it in.
Tam O'Banter
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 07:59 PM....and all these eejits who detest The Scotsman are still reading it! Why not try The Sun or The Mirror? Or, even more suitable for Mr and Mrs Angry, The Daily Mail.
Tam O'Banter
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 07:51 PMThe higher the monkey climbs, the more he reveals.......
mordor
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 07:38 PMI take it that you have all looked at the full costings before making comment?.................oh right, mouths running off on the basis of fresh air rather than evidence once again........I have not looked at the costings so am not going to comment on whether it is a good or bad idea.
Jolly
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 05:37 PMWee Eck's big hoose
Agent P
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 05:18 PM116Shawfield Urchin, What a load of 'gobblygook'.................................................................. You posted ............... "Whereas the ABN Amro decision was not the best, it had little to do with the subsequent near collapse of RBS." As usual, you are totally out of touch with reality.
Shawfield Urchin
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 04:59 PMComment removed by moderator
Agent P
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:25 PM"Shawfield Urchin, 09072011 15:19:39 Whereas the ABN Amro decision was not the best, it had little to do with the subsequent near collapse of RBS." ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: The Official Report into RBS (Published December 2011) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::; "This Report describes many such poor decisions by RBS management and Board. Among the most striking was the decision to go ahead with the ABN AMRO acquisition. That acquisition, for reasons described in Part 2 of the Report, played a significant role in RBS’s failure." :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Biffo as sharp as a bowling ball as always.
Bug R Tiffanno
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 03:13 PMNice big turret wall for Humpty dumpty to have a great fall.
Buford Van Stomm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:58 PM112 rider000 stop talking sense or you will be hounded for being an onionist.
rider000
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:44 PM106Brit-free Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:15 PM why grudge a guid billet tae the man who has achieved , what so many have desired , for so long ,, a chance to undo the anti democratic act of betrayal which was the Act of Union ............ I wish people could do some research before writing guff. There was no effective 'democracy' until the reform act of 1832. The act of union of 1707 clearly pre dates this. There were English and Scottish Parliaments from the 13th and 17th centuries respectively but they couldn't even loosly be termed democratic more a selection of land owners and clergy. Scotland 'fell' into the Union because it was bankrupt and needed the support of England financially and England closed a French back door. I'm not sure what 1707 has to do with a new home for King Alex though?
Buford Van Stomm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:40 PMLimited companies and mutual incorporations are different beasts.
Buford Van Stomm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:38 PMSeems like Queens Park FC is better supported than the GB football team ==================================================== Susan Boyle's chest is better supported than clyde.
Buford Van Stomm
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:37 PM107 Brit-free ==================================================== so you do not approve of individuals receiving public largesse by want of their position yet you want Salmond to have the building in perpetuity......you are one deranged cretin.
Page 1 of 9
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.