Victoria Quay

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its current utilisation of, and plans for, its Victoria Quay building and car parking facilities in Leith. (S7O-00497)

Published data from the Scottish Government for Victoria Quay indicates occupancy levels of around 25 per cent for the previous nine months. Since the mandatory hybrid working policy has been in place, that has reached 40 per cent this week. We continue to keep the matter under review in order to make efficient and appropriate use of the building. I welcome Mr Macpherson’s previous work on the matter and his questions today.

It is great to hear about more civil servants coming back to work in Leith. They always make such a positive impact when they are in the community, and they are obviously providing a public service. If the Scottish Government comes to the position that parts of the building are surplus to its requirements, there are so many opportunities, working with the people of Leith, to provide extra facilities from Victoria Quay for the benefit of the local area. For example, it could provide affordable creative work spaces and spaces for technology start-ups, including by, potentially, housing those currently in St Margaret’s house who are now being displaced. We also need a new police station in Leith, to allow police to move out of the old building they are currently using, and there is strong demand for more car parking facilities, especially to support local hospitality.

I would be really grateful if, together with relevant officials, the minister would commit to having a meeting in Leith to hear about those suggestions and how, if we work together, Victoria Quay can offer even more to the people of Leith.

I thank Mr Macpherson for his creative thoughts. Looking at our estates across the board is exactly what we should be doing with public assets, in relation both to the people working there and to the public funds that are going into those assets.

There is a review going on right now on the opportunities to use Victoria Quay more efficiently, and I am interested in hearing about Mr Macpherson’s range of suggestions involving the police, the tech industry and start-ups. We will continue to progress the work, and I would be happy to engage with Mr Macpherson on the matter, which I know is a long-standing issue for him—as, indeed, it was for my predecessor. I would very much welcome receiving more information from Mr Macpherson and would take a meeting.