RBS plan to share historic Edinburgh HQ

RBS plan to share historic Edinburgh HQ The Royal Bank of Scotland building in St Andrew`s Square. " . Euan Leitch, assistant director of the Cockburn Association, which monitors the use of historic buildings in Edinburgh, said: "The loss of a city institution from a building that it has been its headquarters for almost two centuries would be regrettable but arguably it could be an opportunity for a sensitive conversion to another use. RBS, which previously sold a neighbouring building to Hearts FC owner Vladimir Romanov, says it has "no plans" at the present time to leave the site - to which it has an "emotional attachment" - or to close its branch there. According to a document lodged by consultancy GVA Grimley with the council, which is consulting on a long-term blueprint for the future of the city: "36 St Andrew Square is RBS's registered head office and comprises Dundas House, with modern office buildings to the rear. Stewart Taylor, a director at planning agents CBRE, said: "The issue with 36 St Andrew Square will be in finding out what restrictions there will be on converting an older building like this. Now the former home of the mighty bank in St Andrew Square, central Edinburgh, could be turned into a hotel, department store or private residences. Documents lodged with the city council reveal that the bank is thinking about putting its site at 36 St Andrew Square forward for redevelopment to coincide with the forthcoming overhaul of the nearby St James Centre. It has even suggested that the development be used to help create links between the new St James Quarter and St Andrew Square, now a visitor attraction after its central garden was opened to the public. Consultants acting on behalf of the bank say RBS would "welcome the opportunity" for talks with the council about the site, on the eastern side of the square, next to the Harvey Nichols store. With the St James Quarter development, a huge transformation is expected east of St Andrew Square with the demolition of the old Scottish Office headquarters and more than 90 new shops, apartments and a hotel. "St Andrew Square is a very attractive location because Harvey Nichols is there now, as well as Multrees Walk, and it is much more pleasant since the garden was opened it. "St Andrew Square is positioned within an area of significant change in the city centre lying within the St James Quarter," it says. It is recorded that Dundas once nearly lost it gambling but he managed to hang on to his family home. "The activation of current dead routes and spaces, particularly at the rear of the site, could create opportunities for new commercial/residential uses at the RBS property. The RBS building was built for wealthy merchant Lawrence Dundas and carried out in 1774. RBS plan to share historic Edinburgh HQ Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 06/05/2012