Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26 Major capital projects progress update (August 2024)

Sector: Rural and Environment

Project: RBGE - Edinburgh Biomes

Business case approved stages: Project will transform the current failing RBGE (Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh) estate – home to Scotland’s national biodiversity research collections - to a create a world-class facility that will produce climate, economic, wellbeing and environmental benefits, as part of a green economic recovery for Scotland. The FBC outlined that the total cost of the project was to be £89.9 million and that the full programme will be completed by October 2027 with the public entrance Glasshouse the final planned phase of work. The Scottish Government funding amounts to £58 million 2021-2026 (Framework agreement is procurement route for project).

Progress at December 2023: No change to full FBC programme since the last report.

Restoration of the A-listed Victorian Palm Hoses continues to progress positively with a projected completion date at the end of 2024. The infrastructure phase of the programme commenced in October 2023 and the key elements of this part of the programme, includes the design and construction of a new substation, an underground heating pipe network and associated services.

Decant of the internationally important plant collection is largely completed, with over 40,000 plants temporarily housed across RBGE’s visitor and research glasshouses, which are also to be refurbished at a later stage of Edinburgh Biomes programme.

The impact of construction material inflation and labour costs during the initial phases of the programme continue to be assessed across the remainder of the programme which may result in a potential impact on later phasing of the works.

Progress at August 2024: No change to full FBC programme since last report.

Restoration of Victorian Palm Houses continues positively with a projected completion date now expected to be spring 2025. While good progress continues, there are technical challenges with the project which affect both the programme and the budget, and these are currently being assessed. The infrastructure phase of the programme which commenced in October 2023 is progressing well and is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.

Decant of the remaining elements of the internationally important plant collection has been paused awaiting the provision of additional decant space.

As noted at the last update, construction inflation continues to affect the Biomes programme, in tandem with challenges of managing spend within a strictly annualised budget. A refreshed business case is in progress to inform potential future capital allocations for the later phasing of works across the programme covering a five-year period from 2026-27.

Contact for public enquiries: email: andrew.mackie@gov.scot