Tron Kirk focus of heritage plan

ONE of Edinburgh's most historic buildings would be transformed into a major visitor attraction celebrating Scotland's world heritage sites under a vision to secure its future.

The A-listed Tron Kirk on the Royal Mile has been closed to the public for six years and earlier bids to turn it into an exhibition space, heritage centre, conference venue and a restaurant or cafe have failed to materialise.

However, now the charity responsible for protecting Edinburgh's world heritage sites has launched talks with the city council, which owns the 17th century building, about taking it over.

Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) wants it to celebrate the Capital's Old Town and New Town world heritage sites - as well as the other four Scottish sites on Unesco's heritage register.

Bosses at the organisation are working on a business plan for the project, which could see a cafe or restaurant attached to the rear of the building on Hunter Square in order to bring in revenue to maintain the former church, which houses the remains of the oldest surviving street in the Capital.

Adam Wilkinson, director of EWH, said: "As a category A-listed building at risk at the heart of the World Heritage Site, the Tron Kirk is naturally a priority for us, and finding a sustainable use for it is key to its future.

"The idea we are exploring with the council is to open this wonderful building as a world heritage centre, telling the story of the Old and New Towns for visitors and pointing them to the nation's four other world heritage sites.

"There is a great need to raise the profile of the city's world heritage site, to show visitors the wealth of heritage on offer and encourage residents to rediscover and explore what's on their doorstep."

Council leaders will need to decide whether they are willing to hand over the Tron Kirk to EWH for a peppercorn rent, in order to bring the building back to life.

EWH, which is facing cuts to the funding it receives from the city council, is based at a building at Charlotte Square. Control of the Tron Kirk could see it move its HQ.

"Needless to say this will require a very large fundraising effort, but we are confident that people will see the value of the scheme," said Mr Wilkinson. "The Tron Kirk is one of Edinburgh's architectural treasures, and we intend to see it brought back to life."

A report on the next steps for the building is expected to go before the city council's finance committee later this year. As well as EWH, there is understood to be interest from restaurant and cafe operators.

Councillor Jim Lowrie, the city's planning leader, said: "We will continue to work with Edinburgh World Heritage to bring forward imaginative and financially viable proposals with a view to making this happen."