The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, featuring performers from home and abroad, is crucial for both the capital and nation's economy Picture: Neil Hanna
THE Edinburgh Military Tattoo will have a new multi-million-pound arena in place for the 2011 event after organisers finalised a funding package for the long-awaited project.
Officials revealed yesterday that they were set to go ahead with the cre
ation of new £16 million spectator stands and corporate hospitality boxes within months.
Rumours that the project was being delayed due to the impact of the economic downturn and problems securing £12 million worth of public funding for the venture were dismissed yesterday as Tattoo chiefs declared the project "all systems go".
The scheme will cut the time it takes to erect and dismantle the spectator stands, to between three and four weeks, allowing the Esplanade to host more year-round events.
Construction and civil engineering giant Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed to mastermind the project.
The firm has been asked to produce detailed designs by the end of the year, with a planning application expected to be lodged early in 2010 after the approval of heritage bodies has been sought.
The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are understood to have reached agreement within the last few weeks to match the £3 million set aside for the project more than a year ago by Edinburgh City Council.
First Minister Alex Salmond is expected to formally launch the project in the run-up to this year's event.
The city council has also agreed to provide a £6 million loan to the Tattoo, based on income expected to be generated by the event over the next few years. The Tattoo is expected to create a debenture scheme to help make up the shortfall.
Tattoo and council officials have spent months warning civil servants and government ministers that the future of the money-spinning event was in doubt if the spectator stands are not replaced within the next three to four years, but the Tattoo board is thought to have received word last month that the project could now go ahead.
A spokesman for the Tattoo said yesterday: "We are expecting detailed designs to be completed and brought to our board by the autumn and our plan is very much for the new stands to be in place for the 2011 event.
"It is very much all systems go for the project and it is now a matter of steering the project through the planning process, although we will obviously be speaking to a range of stakeholders before an application is submitted to the council."
Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city council's economic development leader, said: "The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a unique and iconic event and is of vital importance to both the city and the nation in the exposure it brings around the world."
The Scottish Government said it was not yet in a position to comment on any funding for the spectator stands project.
A spokeswoman for Scottish Enterprise added: "We continue to work closely with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo team to explore a number of options that will allow them to deliver their plans for the stand infrastructure."
