‘Red line’ warning on luxury hotel
● Arts funder urges city council to reject bid to take over old Royal High
One of Scotland’s leading arts philanthropists has warned that turning Edinburgh’s old Royal High School into a luxury hotel is a “red line” that should not be crossed for commercial interests.
Carol Grigor, who has pledged to bankroll the creation of a new concert hall and music school in the Calton Hill landmark, has warned a looming decision on the proposed Rosewood hotel would “speak volumes” on how much value Edinburgh placed on culture, heritage and education.
In an open letter to Frank Ross, the city’s Lord Provost, Ms Grigor, a major financial backer of the Edinburgh International Festival, said a “wrong step” to back the controversial hotel would “threaten” the city’s world heritage status.
Ms Grigor has pledged to fund the proposed relocation
0 Edinburgh’s planners have been urged to reject a scheme to convert the old Royal High School into a hotel of St Mary’s Music School to the 19th century building through her Dunard Fund.
The open letter is also signed by William Gray Muir, chair of the Royal High School Preser- vation Trust, which Ms Grigor help set up in 2015, and music school chair William Moyes.
Councillors backed the trust’s plans for the building last year, but they cannot proceed as the local authority previously had a lease agreement with the hotel developers.
The letter, released ahead of a planning hearing next week, states: “This decision is monumental and goes far beyond the redevelopment of a single listed building. It will speak volumes about the value we place on our heritage, on our culture and on education.
“Indeed, it is viewed as such a significant decision internationally that a wrong step threatens the city’s hard won Unesco status. This is a red line we should not cross for the sake of narrow commercial interests. Not when there is a better option.
“The Royal High School Preservation Trust, St Mary’s Music School and the Dunard Fund have come together to propose an almost universally admired alternative. We have the vision and resources to create a centre of excellence that will significantly broaden and enhance access to music and musical education, as well as making this exceptional building a true public asset.
“Moving St Mary’s Music School to the Old Royal High represents a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a future for one of this city’s greatest architectural masterpieces in a manner which enhances Edinburgh’s heritage, culture and reputation for educational excellence.”