Balfour Beatty Construction has been appointed by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) to deliver the £9.3m refurbishment of the city's Assembly Rooms.

The George Street venue will benefit from an extensive overhaul of its main events spaces, including the Ballroom and the Music Hall. Work is due to take around 18 months to complete and it is anticipated that the Assembly Rooms will be ready in time to participate in the Cultural Olympiad in summer 2012.

CEC leader Deidre Brock said: "We are at last in a position to grant this wonderful historic building the refurbishment it so desperately needs in order to retain its position as the beating heart of George Street." Earlier this month, councillors agreed to pursue the refurbishment plans despite objections from campaigners.