Nicola Sturgeon was told by the Scottish Government to sell off its historic headquarters due to the cost of adapting the building to the green policies she is introducing.
The First Minister has been told that it will cost £5.8million to swap St Andrew’s House from gas-fired heating to an environmentally friendly alternative by the end of the decade.
A Scottish Government impact assessment recommended that she consider moving to an office/hub in Edinburgh, where more energy-efficient technologies can be easily introduced and cost effectively.
The Heat in Buildings Plan, unveiled in October, commits buildings to achieving “a large number of buildings achieving good levels of energy efficiency” by the end of this decade. The Government of Ms Sturgeon would lead the effort.
It was originally built to house the Scottish Office and was inaugurated by King George VI on September 20, 1940. Since 1999, it has been home to the Scottish Government.
The Fist Minister has been told that it will cost £5.8million to swap St Andrew’s House from gas-fired heating to an environmentally friendly alternative by the end of the decade.
The Daily Telegraph obtained the following report under Freedom of Information laws: It will cost seven figures to renovate St Andrews House.
It was originally built as the Scottish Office’s home and opened to King George VI on September 20, 1940. It has been home to the Scottish Government since 1999 when it was devolved. Around 1,800 civil servants are based in this building.
In a speech delivered ahead of Cop26 in October, the First Minister of Scotland called on high-emitting countries to make a significant uplift in their ambitions to address the climate crisis.
The Scottish Government has opted out of the UK Government’s Boiler Upgrade Scheme – which will see grants of £5,000 to install heat pumps – to focus on its own scheme.
The Scottish Government’s Heat in Buildings strategy aims to convert a million homes to ‘zero emissions heat’ by 2030 to meet greenhouse gas targets. In addition, by 2045 all buildings must be converted, at a cost of £33billion.
However, the Government has pledged just £1.8billion as an initial contribution.
Responses to an official consultation warned moving to ‘net zero’ could add up to £800 a year to utility bills – and could render some homes ‘unsellable’.