Towering ambition: First Minister will move house

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.”