Devolution: Dewar's patriot game wins battle over home for Scots MPs

Scotland's first parliament for 300 years is to be built adjacent to Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh. Stephen Goodwin reports on what looks like a smart decision by Donald Dewar, the Scottish `prime minister in waiting'.

Robert the Bruce held a parliament at Holyroodhouse in 1326, Donald Dewar, the Secretary of State for Scotland, pointed out yesterday as he began bolstering the significance of the chosen site for the Home Rule Parliament.

Under fire from the Scottish Nationalists, he was demonstrating his customary shrewd touch. Calton Hill, the site favoured by the SNP and the Liberal Democrats, might boast an imposing collection of national monuments, but Holyrood has the more ancient pedigree. Who better to cite than the victor of Bannockburn?

The four-acre site, at present the headquarters of the brewers Scottish and Newcastle, lies at the foot of the Royal Mile, running from Holyroodhouse to Edinburgh Castle. It has been a royal route since 1128, when David I founded the Abbey of Holyrood, as Mr Dewar emphasised. "I am convinced that when future generations look to the decision... they will applaud the choice to create a new symbol for Scottish democracy ..."

Holyrood only entered the running just before Christmas. The brewers will have moved out by April 1999, work on the site will begin soon after and the new Parliament is due to be completed by the second half of 2001.

However, that will leave the 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) homeless for at least two years from their election on 6 May 1999. Temporary halls being considered by the Scottish Office include the city council chambers, the general assembly hall of the Church of Scotland and the old Royal High School on Calton Hill, converted for use as a parliament in the 1970s, though acknowledged last year as too small.

The debating chamber will be horseshoe-shaped rather than the two sword lengths between opposing benches of the Commons. This reflects Mr Dewar's wish that the parliament should be "an enduring symbol of the new politics". A competition is to be held to choose a designer for the building. Estimates for the cost of the building alone begin at pounds 50m, with the total bill predicted to be around pounds 80m - double the top figure in last summer's White Paper.

Mr Dewar was originally thought to favour a site by Leith docks, adjacent to the new Scottish Office building, while his political opponents and the Edinburgh establishment were rooting for Calton Hill. In opting for Holyrood, Mr Dewar, who on Thursday declared his intention to stand for the new parliament, has skilfully avoided a climb-down over Calton Hill while getting his way for a modern building.