Holyrood inquiry hears council plans

Calton Hill gives impressive views of Edinburgh

A proposal to build a parliamentary complex on Calton Hill in Edinburgh for about £40m was made by a development company owned by the city council.

The Holyrood Inquiry heard that the company, Economic Development and Investment (EDI), put forward two proposals in 1997 for construction work on Calton Hill with budgets of £36m and £43.5m.

EDI chief executive Ian Wall said one of the plans would have created a square in front of St Andrew's House which could have been used as an area of "national celebration".

The claim came on the first day of the third week of the Holyrood Inquiry, led by Tory peer Lord Fraser of Carmyllie.

Grander boulevard

It is trying to discover how the cost of the Scottish Parliament building at Holyrood has risen more than 10 times its original estimate to £401m.

Giving evidence at the Scottish Land Court in Edinburgh, Mr Wall said: "We wanted to create a new formal square at the junction of North Bridge, Princes Street, Leith Street and Waterloo Place, in front of Register House and the old GPO.

"Then we wanted to transform Waterloo Place into a grander boulevard, culminating in a civic square or national square in front of St Andrew's House, a new parliament building, so as to create a place of national celebration."

Mr Wall insisted the Calton Hill development would have met many of the criteria for the building, including its city centre location and its impressive views.

User brief

He also insisted it would have allowed for regeneration of the area and boosted property values including those owned by the government.

Despite all of this he admitted that he did not see the building user brief drawn up by the Scottish Office to set out what ministers wanted from a new Scottish parliament building.

Mr Wall said that EDI first met the then Secretary of State Donald Dewar in July 1997.

He made a presentation of its proposals to Mr Dewar and other senior ministers and officials on 17 October of that year.