Edinburgh city council is reviewing its property holdings, two weeks before the official opening of its purpose-built HQ.
After deciding to move 1,800 staff to its 200,000 sq ft HQ at Waverley Court, the local authority is now planning to move a further 1,500 staff from council premises into another new 200,000 sq ft office.
A source close to the authority said the review had come about because staff not moving to Waverley Court were disgruntled at being left in secondary premises.
He added: “Relocating staff so soon opens the council up to criticism that it did not allow enough expansion space.”
The council has already held discussions with Standard Life about a potential move to the fund manager’s former 204,000 sq ft HQ at Tanfield Silvermills in Canonmills.
However, the source added: “Tanfield is a cost-effective option but does not tick all the boxes in terms of being environmentally friendly. This is important given the council’s commitment to greener working practices.”
The local authority has also been linked to Mountgrange’s 220,000 sq ft Caltongate scheme, which went in for planning earlier this month.
While it will be more expensive than Tanfield, Caltongate is opposite Waverley Court.
The council confirmed it was reviewing its property with a view to entering a “second phase”.
Ian McNicoll, the project manager overseeing the move, said: “The property strategy group will look at the council leases but we will not necessarily close everything down or look for a new office.”
Waverley Court will be officially opened by Princess Anne on 26 April.
