Bute House in Edinburgh to be closed for 20 weeks to undergo essential repairs, Scottish Government says

The First Minister’s official Edinburgh residence will close for 20 weeks while essential repairs are undertaken.

The Scottish Government said the cabinet will meet at St Andrews House while the works take place on the A-listed building.

They include stonework and roof repairs, window refurbishments and “essential” fire safety works.

The building, located in the city’s Charlotte Square, will be closed from April 17 until September 1.

The refurbishment means the next First Minster won’t be able to take up official residence in Bute House until autumn.

Bute House is the First Minister's official residence. — Bute House is the First Minister’s official residence. Getty Images

Temporary accommodation will be arranged for the incoming leader, the Scottish Government said.

A routine stonework survey was carried out in August and September in 2021 and identified the need for a range of external stonework and roof repairs.

In 2018, Bute House, which is owned by the National Trust for Scotland, underwent six months of repairs over ceiling issues at a cost of £504,216.

Further ceiling work was undertaken in 2021 during the Covid pandemic which the Scottish Government described as “essential”.

The Scottish Government said costs for the programme of works and any alternative accommodation for the incoming SNP leader will be published “proactively” after they are confirmed at the end of the project.