£140k cost of shops empty for three years
New tenants claim
Shop units in the city centre which have lain empty for three years have cost Stirling Council almost £140,000 this year alone.
A succession of assurances have been given since the units in Goosecroft Road were completed that they would be filled but no tenants have materialised.
Last week council officers insisted again there was light at the end of the tunnel.
Commercial property rents are said to be £39,000 under budget so far this year because of delays in leasing the shops.
Property costs in the housing revenue account are said to be £96,000 over budget, mostly down to work being carried out on the units in Goosecroft Road in preparation for new businesses.
Housing service manager John Macmillan told the council’s environment and housing committee that his service had taken over the project from commercial property colleagues.
He said: “We are taking that forward and now have a building warrant that has been accepted. We have subdivision of a unit and some property works and slight fit-out for a toilet, etc. We are now moving forward.”
The £6 million development at the corner of Goosecroft Road and Maxwell Place features 53 flats with four shop units on the ground floor.
Since the building was completed at the start of 2016 all of the shops have lain empty, despite successive assurances from officials that tenants were imminent.
Last month the council said businesses should be moving into at least two of the units in the new year.