Edinburgh conference centre plans unveiled

Published on Sunday 18 January 2009 21:04

ONE of Scotland's most important conference centres has finally unveiled plans to start work on a massive extension which it is hoped will double the economic benefit it brings to the country.

Construction of an underground complex will see the Edinburgh International Conference Centre boast a new 1,600-seater auditorium, officials have revealed.

Banqueting space for up to 2,000 people, compared to the current 900 capacity, will also be created, while the EICC will boast a new entrance in the form of a striking atrium.

The new facilities are expected to result in the EICC generating around 90 million a year for Edinburgh's economy, compared to the current 45m annual benefit.

It is hoped the new-look EICC will be able to capture conferences which the capital is currently missing out on because of a lack of space.

Major sporting fixtures, including boxing matches and snooker tournaments, and awards ceremonies are also to be targeted, while the EICC is expected to host an expanded programme of Fringe shows.

Hans Rissman, chief executive of the EICC, told The Scotsman the 80m extension plans were going "full steam ahead", despite the economic downturn and the slump in the property market, as well as the fact a fresh planning application for the development is required for an office complex to be built above the new underground space.

A deal to finance the project was clinched in the spring when Scottish Enterprise agreed to plough in 18m on the basis that the council and the EICC build the development themselves rather than put a tender out to contract.

The extension project will be financed through the creation of a seven-storey development which will fill one of the last gaps in the capital's "Exchange" financial district.

The City of Edinburgh council and the EICC will be effectively borrowing millions of pounds which they expected to recoup through hires of the extra space and leases on the offices.

Rissman said: "

None of the plans for the underground extension of the EICC need to be changed so we would hope to have our planning application approved within the next few months, and the plan is to have working starting on the ground in the latter part of 2009.

"The extension is absolutely crucial for us to attract the really big conferences as they all require more exhibition and banqueting space than we can currently offer."

It emerged in October that the EICC had posted a 600,000 pre-tax loss in 2007, with officials blaming the delays in the extension for a slump in business.

Sue Stuart, chief executive of the Edinburgh Convention Bureau, the city's business tourism body, added: "Edinburgh faces stiff global competition from an increasing number of destinations who realise the value of business tourism and who are investing heavily in conference facilities.

"We are currently undertaking an audit of its conference infrastructure in order to identify what needs to be done to meet the growing international challenge. The EICC project will complement that review."

Jenny Dawe, leader of Edinburgh City Council, said: "We do desperately need the EICC extension so that it can properly compete with other conference centres, not just in the UK, but all over the world. It simply cannot meet the current requirements of many event organisers."