Contract signed for construction of ‘hall for all’ Edinburgh concert venue

Plans for Edinburgh’s first purpose-built concert hall in more than a century have reached a new milestone with the signing of the construction contract after a £40 million funding boost.

Work on the Dunard Centre will begin within weeks after the £162m main construction contract was signed with Balfour Beatty.

The so-called “hall for all” will be built on the recently cleared site behind the historic Royal Bank of Scotland branch on St Andrew Square and is expected to be completed by 2029.

The 1,000-seat hall will host all types of music and will provide a permanent home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a new venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.

The signing of the contract comes after an in-principle pledge of an additional £20 million in funding by Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney, which has been matched pound-for-pound by philanthropist and former concert pianist Carol Colburn Grigor.

An artist’s impression of the cafe terrace at the Dunard Centre PA Media

IMPACT Scotland is the charity responsible for delivering the hall.

Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, said: “This is a huge milestone for the Dunard Centre, and a historic moment for the city, which has looked forward to this new venue for many years.

“Today’s announcement would not have been possible without the extraordinary additional pledge from the Scottish Government, and the match-funding it has unlocked, in recognition of the long-lasting impact this project will have on the people of Scotland.

“As a living, breathing community centre with a concert hall at its heart, the benefits of this landmark investment will be felt daily by countless individuals and communities for generations to come.”

The Dunard Centre is part of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal through which the Scottish and UK governments have already committed £10m each, alongside £5m from the City of Edinburgh Council.

Jo Buckley, chief executive of the Dunard Centre, visiting the construction site PA Media

IMPACT Scotland has also raised more than £100m to date from private philanthropy.

Swinney said: “I greatly welcome the signing of this contract as the next step towards the establishment of an exciting new cultural venue in the heart of Scotland’s capital.

“The Scottish Government is proud to support the Dunard Centre in recognition of its potential to significantly boost Edinburgh’s cultural offering and provide a new home to the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.”

The concert hall, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, has been designed by David Chipperfield Architects with Reiach and Hall Architects, and it is said it will be the first UK venue with acoustics by Japanese firm Nagata Acoustics.

The Dunard Centre is expected to attract around 200,000 visitors and support nearly 300 jobs each year, and it is estimated it will increase spending in Edinburgh and the surrounding region by £8.6m a year.

Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill said: “The UK Government recognises the significance of the Dunard Centre to Edinburgh’s cultural landscape and welcomes this progress towards delivery.”

The construction project will employ a workforce of around 200 people at its peak.

IMPACT Scotland chairman Ronnie Bowie said: “Signing this contract with Balfour Beatty is another celebratory step towards making our vision a reality, and we look forward to working alongside our many other stakeholders to create this ‘hall for all’ – a space which really will offer something for everyone, whether it’s experiencing a phenomenal live show, a workshop, a class, or simply gathering over a coffee.”