EDINBURGH is to have a new concert hall and venue, the Dunard Centre.
The scheme for the new venue has been given planning permission by the City of Edinburgh Council.
The venue, in a space behind the Royal Bank of Scotland's building in Edinburgh's New Town, has been designed by architect Sir David Chipperfield.
The Dunard Centre will have a 1,000-seat auditorium, a 200-seat studio and a large foyer for all-day, informal performance, and is likely to open in 2023.
Sir Ewan Brown, Chairman of Impact Scotland, the body behind the venue, said: "Today’s decision is tremendous news for the city and turns the ambition for a world-class centre for music and performance, into a reality.
"I am particularly pleased to announce today that the official name of the venue will be Dunard Centre supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, this is in recognition of the huge contribution Carol Grigor has made to this project through the charitable trust Dunard Fund.
"We now have the opportunity to create an exciting new venue for everyone, in a building to be proud of."
Sir David Chipperfield said: "This will be a public building that relates to Edinburgh on a civic scale by both fitting in and standing out in order to perform an important social and cultural role in a city with strong established cultural traditions."
Its location is just off St Andrew Square, in the centre of Edinburgh.
READ MORE: Plans for new concert hall for Edinburgh revealed
The project is receiving £25 million through the Edinburgh City Region Deal, with £10 million from the UK Government, £10 million from the Scottish Government, and £5 million from City of Edinburgh Council.
All other funding is being met privately, most significantly from Dunard Fund who, in addition to a substantial donation, are "underwriting any capital cost overruns and annual deficits of the centre in the first 3 years of operation."
The leader of the city council, Adam McVey, said: "The city region deal has given us the first opportunity for more than 100 years to create a new concert hall in Edinburgh.
"It’s a hugely exciting time and now that the designs have planning permission, the project can move forward.
"The creation of the Concert hall will provide an excellent new venue and home for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and be another exiting development on St Andrew Sq. "None of it would be possible without our ambitious city deal or the generosity of philanthropists like Carol Grigor.
"Together, we’re opening up an exciting new chapter in Edinburgh’s already thriving cultural scene to help more of our residents to take part in and enjoy the arts.”
It will be the new home of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and a principal venue for the Edinburgh International Festival.
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