Alex eyes Calton Hill move

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond could be moving out of his official residence at Bute House in Charlotte Square – and into the castle-style Governor’s House at Calton Hill, next door to Scottish Government HQ at St Andrew’s House.

By The Newsroom

Published 7th Oct 2011, 15:39 BST

Officials are suggesting the switch after a review concluded the cost of renovating the 200-year-old building would be cheaper than the £3.5m of upgrading Bute House, which is owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

The Governor’s House was considered as an official residence for Scotland’s First Minister at the start of devolution, but Labour’s Donald Dewar rejected the idea, saying “I don’t think we want pomp and ceremony.”

Around £600,000 has been spent on refurbishment of Bute House since 1999.