Consultation with stakeholders shows there is demand for regular high-quality literature events for both children and adults in Edinburgh. But SBT is unable to run public events to complement its national reader and writer programme, as its premises are underdeveloped and inaccessible. This limits its ability to reach a wider and more diverse audience. SBT is also keen to diversify its sources of income and develop partnerships with other literary organisations and broadcasters such as the BBC.

Developing the buildings will enable Scottish Book Trust to create an accessible public programme that will dramatically widen and increase participation in literature and learning events across all audience groups. This project enables SBT to exploit the asset that the buildings represent, creating a new income stream from ticket sales, sponsorship, hires and private giving. It also makes possible collaborative partnerships with a variety of Scottish and international organisations.