Society's offices up for sale

Edinburgh West End building expected to attract offers over £5.5m

News, 14 April 2008

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The Law Society of Scotland has put its offices at 25-27 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh up for sale, as it advances its plans to move to new premises in the Haymarket area.

The category B listed building, a terrace of three former townhouses dating from the 1870s, is expected to attract offers of over £5.5 million.

Henry Robson, deputy chief executive of the Society, said: "Drumsheugh Gardens has been home to the Society since 1969 and is a great location close to the city centre.

"It is now time for the Society to move to more modern premises which better suit the current needs of the organisation. I hope to announce our new location in the near future."

Previous occupiers of the Drumsheugh Gardens offices have included HM Commissioners of Works and Public Buildings and the Forestry Commission. It was also an officers club for American forces in the First World War.

Craig Watson, associate director of Jones Lang LaSalle, the property agents appointed by the Society, said that at 18,869 square feet (1,713 square metres) the building was "one of the largest sales of traditional townhouse accommodation in central Edinburgh in the past seven years".

Potential buyers are expected to include hotel operators and residential developers.

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