Tron faces sale as repair bill hits £2.3m

Published on Tuesday 1 July 2008 10:29

A HISTORIC kirk in the Royal Mile may be sold off after plans for a long-awaited refurbishment fell through.

City council leaders are said to be considering selling the Tron Kirk, after the cost of restoring it have doubled to nearly 2.3 million.

Plans were approved last year to turn it into a new visitor attraction, with a cafe, exhibitions and performance space. But the spiralling cost of the project has left the city council with a 1 million shortfall.

The council has now ordered a new feasibility study into its future. It is understood the options include persuading a developer to carry out the refurbishment as a joint venture, agreeing a long-term lease or selling the building.

The A-listed building has been on Scotland's official "buildings at risk" register for more than four years.

The former tourist information centre had been leased by Black Hart Entertainment, but they were told to leave in October 2006.