Edinburgh concert hall plans approved
● Capital concert hall set to become a reality as council grants green light
Councillors have given the green light to build Edinburgh’s first concert hall in more than a century.
Following hours of debate, city planners rubber-stamped the £45 million plans for a 1,000-seater auditorium to the rear of Dundas House on St Andrew Square.
Once open, the concert hall will be named the Dunard Centre in recognition of funding from philanthropist Carol Grigor via charitable trust the Dunard Fund.
The first concert hall to be built in Edinburgh for more than 100 years is set to become a reality after councillors approved £45 million proposals to press ahead.
After more than five hours of debate, the city council’s development management sub-committee approved the Impact Centre.
The 1,000-seat auditorium will be renamed the Dunard Centre once open to the public. It is being dedicated to American philanthropist Carol Grigor in recognition of her funding provided to the project through charitable trust, the Dunard Fund.
Ms Grigor, a former touring pianist, was appointed as an honorary vice-president of the Edinburgh International Festival in 2013 and was involved in alternative plans to turn the Old Royal High School into a music school, rather than a hotel.
The Dunard Centre will also include a 200-seat studio for performances, rehearsals and recordings as well as rooms for education and conferences.
The open foyer will host daily music performances and a cafe bar.
Located behind Dundas House at St Andrew Square, it will also become home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and will be used as a venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.
Planning officer Emma Fitzgerald told councillors the plans would “preserve and enhance the conservation area”.
She added that a reduction in daylight and sunlight in some surrounding buildings was “considered to be a minor infringement”.
Adam Wilkinson from the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, said the plans show “a good understanding of the World Heritage Site” and added that it will have “as a minimum, a neutral impact” on the World Heritage setting and if cultural gains are considered, “could be viewed as beneficial”.
Terry Levinthal from heritage watchdog, the Cockburn Association, admitted the plans will provide a “sizeable intervention” in views along George Street but neutralises the “somewhat more chaotic skyline that’s starting to emerge”.
The construction of the Dunard Centre will overlap with the completion of the adjacent St James Centre.
A row emerged between the St James investors and Impact Scotland over servicing for the building.
A team from the Nuveen Real Estates, speaking on behalf of investors for the St James Centre, objected to the plans over scale, materials and traffic issues.
Mike Prentice said: “I’m disappointed and our investors are somewhat angry the city is supporting proposals that fail to meet planning policy.
“The concert hall is too big for the site. The concert hall
could and should go elsewhere “Councillors voted six to four in favour of approving the plans.
Welcoming the decision, Sir Ewan Brown, chairman of the developers Impact Scotland, said: “Today’s decision is tremendous news for the city and turns the ambition for a worldclass centre for music and performance into a reality.
“I am particularly pleased to announce that the official name of the venue will be Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland.”