Lease Marks New Milestone for Former Royal High Restoration
13 March 2023
The restoration of a jewel in the crown of Scotland’s architectural heritage has taken a major step forward with the formal commencement of a lease agreement between City of Edinburgh Council and the Royal High School Preservation Trust (RHSPT).
The agreement enables the RHSPT to take possession of the site of the former Royal High School with immediate effect and paves the way for the iconic Thomas Hamilton building on Calton Hill to be repurposed as a world-class centre for music education and public performance for the benefit of the whole of Scotland.
Under criteria set by City of Edinburgh Council, any proposals for the future of the building had to ensure a sustainable long-term future for the old Royal High School and be of the highest architectural quality.
Councillors agreed in October 2021 that the RSHPT’s plan to create a new National Centre for Music on the site amply fulfilled those criteria, while offering a shared vision for the creation of a new platform for musical collaborations, both within the building, online and out in the wider community.
Works leading to the building’s restoration will commence immediately.
“ This is a significant milestone for the former Royal High School and the delivery of our shared vision for a new world-class centre for music education and public performance. Having planned for so long to conserve and protect the building for the City and the nation it is hugely exciting for the Trust to take possession of it at last and move ahead with restoration plans later this year. I must give great credit to our partners at City of Edinburgh Council for the support and assistance over recent months that has led to this point. As we prepare to move ahead into the redevelopment phase in the months ahead, we look forward to collaborating closely with the local community as we keep them up to date on progress. ”
"It’s great news that work is about to start on this iconic building, set in the heart of our World Heritage Site. The new centre for music education and public performance will be a standard bearer for the Capital and Scotland more widely. I look forward to seeing the upcoming works to preserve and invest in this historic city centre building."
Cammy Day, Council Leader
Proposals for the restoration of the building and the creation of a new National Centre for Music can be viewed on the RHSPT website – www.rhspt.org.