Infrastructure investment plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: major capital projects progress update – February 2025
The following information relates to projects with a capital value of £5 million or more which are at the outline business case (or equivalent) approved stage or beyond.
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 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.
Progress at February 2025: A refreshed draft FBC programme covering later phases of the Biomes Programme is subject to review going forward.
Restoration of the Victorian Palm Houses is nearing completion with a handover of the site from contractor back to RBGE in summer 2025. Technical challenges associated with extent of restorative work required to metalwork have now stabilised, but this work alongside the need to individually fabricate each Victorian window, resulted in further programme slippage from spring to summer 2025. Scaffolding surrounding palm houses in process of being dismantled. The infrastructure phase of the programme was completed in early January 2025, which feeds heating and associated services to the palm houses, via the new energy centre, which is scheduled to commence in mid-2025.
A refreshed business case has been prepared 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