IT has overlooked the Scottish capital since 1829 and now after standing unused for 50 years the future fate of Thomas Hamilton's masterpiece atop Calton Hill is within sight.
The developer behind plans for a hotel for the historic but derelict school, which has become the focus of debate over future development in Edinburgh and particularly around its World Heritage Site after the plan caught the attention of Unesco, has said it is "satisfied" the outcome of a public inquiry will fall in favour of the £75 million hotel proposal as inquiry findings are prepared to go before Scottish Ministers.
David Orr, of the joint developer Urbanist Hotels and Duddingston House Properties, said its evidence "builds a compelling and overwhelmingly positive case in support of our vision to bring a genuinely world class hotel to Edinburgh and to Scotland", as the next stage of the unusual case is thought to be weeks away.
The case is at appeal after City of Edinburgh Council rejected revised plans amid wider concerns over the impact the hotel would have on the city's Unesco World Heritage Site status.
Read more: Developer behind bid to turn Edinburgh's old Royal High School into luxury hotel vows to fight on
Urbanist has appealed to the Scottish Government against a council planning refusal, which came despite the local authority having originally offered Urbanist a lease on the school.
Duddingston and Urbanist have also produced a 90-page closing submission which follows the month-long Scottish Government public inquiry into the proposed development which concluded in October 2018.
However, separately waiting in the wings is another developer, led by a group including St Mary's Music School, which is aiming to also house a national music school and concert hall in its rival £35m proposal.
Read more: Old Royal High School hotel plan would have "significant adverse impact" on Edinburgh icon
The hotel developer has said previously that a contract based on gaining planning permission had already been signed with the council.
Mr Orr, co-founder of Urbanist Hotels, said: “We are satisfied that the evidence presented to the public inquiry, summarised by our closing submission, builds a compelling and overwhelmingly positive case in support of our vision to bring a genuinely world class hotel to Edinburgh and to Scotland.
"This is a conservation-led flagship national project which will create an accessible world-class destination, bringing much-needed investment, jobs and new opportunities to Edinburgh and Scotland."
Above: Significant amendments were made to the hotel plan in response to concerns raised.
Mr Orr, who brought Harvey Nichols to Edinburgh and was the driving force behind the Mint Hotel Group, added: "We are confident that this message came over very clearly throughout the course of the inquiry and we now look forward to delivering a positive solution for a magnificent building that has been tragically allowed to deteriorate by remaining unused and unoccupied for the last 50 years."
Read more: In pictures: Edinburgh Unesco watchdog accused of Royal High School hotel photoshop
The funding is in place for both projects, with Urbanist agreeing a partnership with international hospitality group Rosewood Hotels and Resorts as part of the £75m package.
The investment needed to deliver the school plan is provided by Dunard Fund, in what backers describe as one of the largest philanthropic gifts to the nation.
The Dunard Fund, a major benefactor the Edinburgh International Festival, will donate "at least" the £36.5m it is estimated to restore and preserve the Old Royal High for the move by St Mary’s Music School, along with a further £10m in the form of an endowment to secure the buildings’ long-term future.
Above: Montage includes early impression of how the St Mary's School music hall could look
William Gray Muir, chairman of the Royal High School Preservation Trust, which supports the music school, said: "We remain confident that the right decision will be made in favour of our plans, which already have been granted planning permission, to make the Old Royal High the new home for Scotland’s national music school."
Read more: Edinburgh officials reject old Royal High School hotel plan in report
He added: "It is hard to see how Scottish ministers can turn down one of the biggest philanthropic gifts to the nation and deny the city a sustainable centre for music and the arts.
"The opportunity our plans present would enable the building to be used and enjoyed as part of a living, vibrant and forward looking community accessible not only by the music school, but also by the people of Edinburgh and visitors to the city."
The hotel developer said research indicates that the development would support 840 jobs and increase the city’s economic output by £31.5m each year.
Statistics put forward by the hotel developer's Oxford Economics' economic impact assessment 2017 report states that in total the Rosewood Hotel project is predicted to also generate £13.3m in taxation annually.
Read more: St Mary's Music School launch campaign to enlist public to back Old Royal High School plan
Around 250 direct jobs would be created by the new hotel development as well as supporting 590 additional jobs in the wider supply-chain, particularly the food and drink and tourism sector.
The music school would expand its roll from 77 to 120 with outreach programmes to 300 local children, create a new 280-seat hall attracting audiences of over 20,000 annually and contributing approximately £110m to the Edinburgh economy over the next 30 years.
The school capital project is estimated to generate £22.6m for Edinburgh with the ongoing contribution to the city’s economy at around £1.6m.
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