Victoria Quay
Victoria Quay (VQ) is a Scottish Government building situated in Leith, Edinburgh. Designed by Robert Matthew Johnson Marshall, construction began in 1993 and the building was officially opened by the Queen on Monday 1 July 1996. Civil servants had begun moving to Victoria Quay in phases from autumn 1995-1996, before the official opening ceremony.
The building was constructed on redeveloped dockland and housed parts of the Scottish Office prior to 1999. With the advent of parliamentary devolution in 1999 it was transferred to the then Scottish Executive, now Scottish Government. 2,200 civil servants work at Victoria Quay.
It can be argued that construction of this building kick-started Leith's regeneration programme proper. New flats, converted bond warehouses, bistros, bars and restaurants followed. Ocean Terminal also opened later.
Prior to Victoria Quay opening, to give the then Scottish Office a prescence in north Edinburgh, the posts were based at New St. Andrews House on James Craig Walk (behind the St James Centre), Jeffrey Street and Brandon Street, in central Edinburgh. New St Andrews House (NSAH) was closed in phases from 1995-96 due to asbestos which was found to be present in the walls of the building. New St. Andrews House has lain empty for more than a decade.
External links
- Victoria Quay entry at the Gazeteer for Scotland
- Victoria Quay entry at Edinburgh Architecture
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