QMUC fights for Edinburgh campus site

Queen Margaret University College is battling to salvage its ambitious plans for a new campus after the local health trust quit negotiations over the site.

QMUC, which the Lothian Primary Care NHS Trust last year named "preferred bidder" for the former Gogarburn Hospital site, expected to conclude an agreement to sign missives last week. The university college has several sites across Edinburgh, but has long wanted an expanded, centralised campus.

It is taking legal advice after the trust unilaterally ended negotiations, saying the bid "did not provide the best value the market could offer at this time". The Royal Bank of Scotland reportedly wants the site for its world headquarters.

QMUC's principal, Joan Stringer, is urging the bank to consider sharing the site.