Building experts called in to probe Bute House work
BUILDING experts are to investigate the First Minister’s official residence as officials yesterday admitted they ‘don’t know’ the extent of damage to a ceiling.
Nicola Sturgeon was forced to move out of Bute House in Edinburgh this week after it was unexpectedly closed for urgent repair work.
A routine survey on the A-listed building revealed that emergency repairs must be carried out on the property – with further investigations into the structural condition of the house now under way.
Bute House is owned by the National Trust for Scotland but all repairs will be carried out by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) – with taxpayers left to pick up the bill.
It is expected Miss Sturgeon will not get back into the Charlotte Square property until next year – but the cost and timescale of the project have not yet been revealed.
The SNP leader will stay in a hotel this week until other arrangements are put in place, with her staff currently scrambling to find a suitable location for the First Minister.
Miss Sturgeon stays in Edinburgh for three nights during the week while parliament is sitting, and sometimes over the weekends.
Scottish Government officials yesterday claimed that details of work to be carried out are not yet available as investigations into the property started on Monday.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘HES usually undertake structural audits of Bute House just as a matter of course, so I would expect that this came about during one of those inspections and expect that they will be taking another look at the integrity of the building.’
When asked about the structure of the building and extent of the damage, a spokesman for Miss Sturgeon said: ‘The bottom line is we don’t know.’
Asked if there were any health and safety fears surrounding the faults identified at Bute House, he added: ‘There are issues related to its use as a government building, otherwise the decision wouldn’t have been taken to close it.’
It is not known where Miss Sturgeon will stay while works are carried out, but officials have ruled out a permanent move away from the residence – as was suggested by her predecessor Alex Salmond.