A major HMRC hub is to be built in Edinburgh city centre as part of plans to close outlying offices.

Two linked buildings at New Waverley Place have been acquired for the centre, with HMRC occupying 90% of the space with 2600 staff.

The office will be a new build in one of the most expensive real estate locations in Europe and HMRC senior management expect the first staff to move in the summer of 2020.

Closures are still planned for main importing offices such as Livingston and Bathgate although the date is likely to be pushed back to 2020/21.

No changes are being made to other closure dates for offices in Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness.

Lynn Henderson, the Public and Commercial Services union's national officer said: "It goes without saying that we want our members to have access to the very best working environment and modern technology, however, we do not agree that the only way that HMRC can provide its services to the public is from a limited number of locations in cities.

"No consultation has taken place with the union, the public or elected politicians about the Building Our Future programme or the location of the Edinburgh office, and PCS remains firmly behind campaigns such as Keep Work in West Lothian in defence of our members based in Bathgate and Livingston, many of whom would be unable to travel to the new office should their locations close."