The lightweight form of concrete was detected in the building back in June 2023. The areas found to be primarily affected were those over the theatre auditorium and other performance spaces.

East Lothian Council subsequently approved the closure and mothballing of the property due to the significant impacts on service delivery.

Elected members agreed that a place-based development project would be undertaken to prepare viable options for future service delivery and accommodation of the arts in the Musselburgh area. Engagement on the place-based development project took place between April and June 2025, with a series of workshops for key building stakeholders and community groups and an online questionnaire for wider audiences.

Whilst a separate report on the wider place-based development project will be presented in October, a paper specifically on the Brunton will be considered at the full meeting of East Lothian Council on Tuesday, 26 August. This report highlights that over 98% of engagement respondents were in favour of a facility for the arts in Musselburgh. When asked how this could be delivered, people pointed to grant funding from sources such as the Scottish Government, Arts Council or National Lottery, increased commercial activity, Common Good, corporate sponsorship, private donations, community ownership or public share issue.

Members will be asked to approve the proposal and issuing of a Public Information Notice (PIN). The PIN will test the market’s appetite to become involved in future redevelopment of the Brunton Hall, gathering useful analysis to inform next steps. It will outline East Lothian Council’s commitment to redevelop the site to include theatre and performance space, potentially including commercial development of the remaining spaces to offset the cost of delivering the required arts provision, subject to obtaining the necessary consents.

The notice will be issued through Public Contracts Scotland.

The cost of refurbishment and RAAC remediation has been estimated at over £42.2 million, with demolition and rebuild in the region of £50.7m. Pressures on the council’s finances mean that delivering a new facility will require an alternative funding model that potentially involves commercial finance, government support, grant funding, or a combination of these. The PIN will explore market-based options to make informed decisions on a future approach to funding and redevelopment.

As the Brunton Hall is classified as a common good asset, the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 requires the council to publish details of any proposed changes to common good assets and to open these proposals to community councils for consultation. Formal consultation will be carried out on any firm demolition proposals before a final decision is made.

If approved, the publication of a PIN would offer the council and communities more information on what a redeveloped Brunton Hall could mean for Musselburgh and how it could be funded to inform next steps.