Norton Park

The Background to the Proposed Relocation...A Summary

The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland is designated to move Scotland’s National Showground from Ingliston to a new home at Norton Park in 2013; this is due to the expansion of Edinburgh Airport required by the recent Government White Paper for Transport. The preparation for Norton Park has started, and the plans that you see in this exhibition represent Stage 3 of an on-going process. A suitable site has been selected and a deliverability study carried out to ascertain costs. A design team has been appointed to develop a masterplan and take it forward through the planning process. These plans display a draft masterplan for Norton Park as developed in consultation with the project managers, MACE and design consultants, MAKE/EDAW.

We would welcome your comments on what you see and ask that you pass us any suggestions, questions and comments by email or in writing in order that we may take them into consideration.

Norton Park masterplan in full - click here to download and view this slide

Norton Park, West approach - click here to download and view this slide

Norton Park, Central view including Arena - click here to download and view this slide

Norton Park, A View from Above - click here to download and view this slide

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The Latest News on the Society's Relocation Plans....
19 September 2008

Statement from Ray Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS)

Response to Edinburgh Airport new release on new development plans

“RHASS has suffered planning and business blight since December 2003 when the Aviation White Paper was published. To be told two years into a BAA Master Plan that the company has changed its mind and that there are to be further delays doesn’t seem fair or reasonable. BAA still says it wants our land in the future, but they want to cherry pick what and when they buy, over a longer period of time, and so avoid paying for the full relocation of the showground. This leaves the Society and Scotland’s national show ground with no business certainty, no ability to plan properly for the future and puts in jeopardy the opportunity to relocate to an appropriate site at Norton Park which would still enjoy the benefits of being in the capital and close to the airport.    
   
“We do not believe it is fair that any company should have this level of power over another commercial entity such as ourselves. We feel it is wrong that the UK Government considers it appropriate to hand over compulsory purchase powers of our land to BAA at the same time as both it, and the Scottish Government, says that this  is a matter for the two commercial interests to sort out.

“From the outset, we clearly stated that we thought the costs of a like-for-like relocation could cost in the region of £200-400million. Independent experts evaluated our land and property and reached the conclusion in the Feasibility Study of February 2007 that relocation would cost approximately £275million, plus or minus 25% (up to £343million). This was based on 2007 prices for the build. This year’s Deliverability Study gave a figure of £353million, based on 2013 prices. This should have come as no surprise to BAA.

“It is regrettable that the airport feels it is appropriate to move the goal posts and as result, leaves the Society more restricted in moving forward with its business planning for what could be many more years to come. 

“We have always supported the growth of Edinburgh airport and feel that a successful airport can only help the continued success of Scotland’s national showground and the UK’s largest agricultural show. This growth however shouldn’t be at the expense of our success and the substantial contribution that we make to the Scottish economy. To suggest otherwise, and to imply that the fair and appropriate relocation costs needed to facilitate the airport’s growth and expansion could be responsible for increased costs to airlines and passengers is disingenuous and misleading.      

We will now take some time to study the new long term development plan and its implications.”