Monday December 1st 2025
Illustration of Midlothian House retrofit by Reiach and Hall architects
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Schools, libraries, and council buildings will share £12 million of Scottish Government funding to help them become more energy-efficient and cut carbon emissions.
Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund will support 10 projects with grants ranging from £41,000 up to £2.5 million for upgrades such as better insulation, new windows, solar panels, and clean heating systems to replace old gas and oil boilers. These changes will make buildings warmer, reduce energy bills, and help Scotland reach its target of net zero emissions by 2045.
One project receiving funding is Midlothian House, where the Midlothian Council is set to receive around £2.5million.
Midlothian House’s £12.6million makeover is set to transform the council headquarters into a hub location where residents can access several services provided by the council.
The Scottish Government’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund funding will help the proposed plan to replace existing gas boilers with a new air source heat pump and improve the energy efficiency of the building through fabric upgrades, new efficient glazing and a heat recovery ventilation system.
The £12.6million cost of the refurbishment of the council’s head office, in Buccleuch Street, was revealed in February this year, months after councillors voted to approve the work at a meeting held behind closed doors.
It followed an investigation into falling masonry which found issues with the building which required a full retrofit. The building is expected to remain closed for at least 18 months after work got underway over the summer.
Announcing the successful awards, Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin said:
“Reducing emissions and making our buildings greener is one of the most important steps we can take to tackle climate change, and is a key action in our recently published draft Climate Change Plan.
“I have seen first-hand the hard work and commitment of the public sector to transform Scotland’s buildings by taking action to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of public buildings, like the Mitchell Library.
“The public sector are leading by example, and these projects show the scale of ambition on our journey to net zero.
“By investing in clean heating and energy-saving measures now, we are not only reducing emissions but also lowering energy costs for years to come.”
Midlothian Council Leader Councillor Kelly Parry said:
“Helping Scotland reach its target of net zero emissions by 2045 is a key commitment of our Single Midlothian Plan, so it’s hugely gratifying to receive this £2.5 million award from Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund. This investment will make Midlothian House greener, warmer and significantly more energy efficient.
“But most importantly, it will bring real benefits to local people. The project will restore the exterior of the building and transform the ground floor into a modern, welcoming one-stop shop for council services – including housing, revenues and benefits support, along with a new Dalkeith Library and Arts Centre.
“Once complete, Midlothian House will not only perform better and generate lower emissions, but it will also become a vibrant, accessible community hub at the heart of Dalkeith for years to come.”
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