Edinburgh's arts and cultural community is poised to benefit from a permanent, year-round creative hub as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society moves closer to establishing a new home in the city's Old Town.

Renovations are advancing at a Grade-B listed former schoolhouse, built in 1885, which is due to open this summer as a dedicated base for the charity behind the world-renowned festival.

A £250,000 grant from SP Energy Networks' Transmission Net Zero Fund is supporting sustainable upgrades to the historic building. The development, part of a wider funding package that also includes support from the UK Government and The Foyle Foundation, aims to create an inclusive and accessible space welcoming artists, visitors and community groups throughout the year, strengthening the Fringe's connection with the city beyond August.

The investment is delivering a series of improvements that preserve the site's character while adapting it for modern cultural use. Works include restoring key architectural features, installing heritage-appropriate windows and improved insulation to enhance energy efficiency, and replacing the existing gas heating with low‑carbon air source heat pumps.

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Guy Jefferson, Transmission Managing Director at SP Energy Networks, said: "This is exactly the kind of project our Transmission Net Zero Fund was created to support: taking a historic building that means something to the city and helping bring it back into everyday use. What strikes me is how determined the Fringe Society team is to protect what makes this place special while making it work for the people who will use it.

"The Fringe is part of Edinburgh's identity, and this is about creating a community hub for it. When people walk in, we want them to feel inspired, creative and supported."

The site at 6 Infirmary Street traces its roots to the 16th century, when it lay within the grounds of the Blackfriars Priory and inside the defensive Flodden Wall encircling Edinburgh's Old Town. In 1741 it became home to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, giving the street its name, before the hospital was demolished in 1885 to make way for a new primary school designed by Robert Wilson. Today, the building sits within the Edinburgh World Heritage Site and the Old Town Conservation Area.

Westaly Duigan, Head of Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, said: "This building will create a dedicated, year-round base for the Fringe, offering space for artists, communities and partners to come together in the heart of Edinburgh. It's about complementing the city's existing cultural venues and creating more opportunities for creativity, collaboration and connection beyond August.

"The funding from SP Energy Networks has allowed us to complete vital work and maintain momentum on the project. This is an important step not just for the Fringe, but for Edinburgh, helping to create a welcoming, flexible space where ideas can develop, where artists can be supported, and where local people can engage with the Fringe in ways that feel relevant throughout the year."