Edinburgh councillors are being urged to intervene after hundreds of artists, charities and community organisations were told to leave one of the city’s best-known creative hubs.
Around 200 studios, organisations and creative businesses based at St Margaret’s House in Meadowbank have been told they must vacate the building by 24 January 2027.
The distinctive former office building on London Road has provided affordable workspace for artists and community organisations for almost 20 years.
Councillors will now consider calls for the eviction deadline to be extended when the City of Edinburgh Council meets on Thursday 29 October.
SNP councillor Finlay McFarlane has lodged a motion calling on council leader Jane Meagher to approach the Caledonian Trust, which lets the building to arts charity Scot-ART, and seek more time for those based there.
His motion asks for an extension to the deadline or, at minimum, for notice periods contained in tenants’ leases to be honoured.
It also calls for the council to investigate whether any of its own buildings could provide replacement studio space and for further work on creating affordable and sustainable accommodation for Edinburgh’s creative sector.
Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell has also called for the council to work with Scot-ART and those affected to help them find alternative premises.
The council has already pledged to provide support to organisations based in the building. The dispute has added to concerns about the loss of affordable creative space across Edinburgh.
Artists have previously been displaced from Beaverhall Studios and WASPS’ former Dalry premises, while the future of other cultural buildings including Summerhall has also prompted concern.
Edinburgh South West MP Chris Murray described the planned closure of St Margaret’s House as “desperately disappointing” and said its loss would be felt by communities across the city and beyond.
The Caledonian Trust has said St Margaret’s House has been on the market for some time and discussions are taking place with a preferred party over a potential sale.
It said the ageing building no longer meets the standards required for its long-term future and that vacant possession is being sought for January.
The landlord said it had been proud to support independent artists and freelancers at St Margaret’s House and argued that tenants had been given time to make alternative arrangements.
For the artists and organisations based there, however, the deadline has raised fears that one of Edinburgh’s largest concentrations of affordable creative workspace could disappear without an equivalent replacement.
Councillors will debate the motions when the full council meets at the City Chambers on Thursday.