‘Why is building still empty despite bid?’
Questions asked over the sale of B-listed property being deferred
A local entrepreneur has had “the rug pulled from under them” over plans to buy a derelict B-listed building, Stirling Council’s former leader has claimed.
SNP councillor Scott Farmer raised the issue of Langgarth House at a recent special meeting of the council.
The B-listed property, built in 1897, most recently was used as council offices along with the now demolished New Viewforth and Old Viewforth, the current headquarters of Stirling Council.
However, it is now included in the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland, which highlights properties of architectural or historic merit throughout the country that are considered to be at risk or under threat.
Langgarth was vacated in 2009 and has been marketed for sale and lease by Stirling Council on various occasions since.
But at the meeting, Councillor Farmer suggested a potential buyer had finally been found, only to be put on the back burner while a wider review of council buildings was carried out.
The SNP group leader asked: “Despite the building falling into disrepair, the sale of the Class B listed building has been deferred by the current administration.
“There is a serious risk that in failing to invest, the building will decay to an extent it will have to be demolished.
“This must not be allowed to happen. Can the convener explain why the sale has been deferred?”
Environment, transport and net zero convener Councillor Jen Preston (Labour) said: “After a marketing exercise in 2022 a preferred purchaser was identified.
“However, the disposal process was paused to allow the work associated with the review of the council’s office accommodation plan and consideration of the overall Viewforth site to be conducted.
“All bidders were notified that the disposal process has been paused and officers continue to monitor the building, which remains in a safe and secure condition.”
However, while acknowledging the building was “safe and secure”, Councillor Farmer said the “iconic” building had still been left in a state of disrepair and empty for a number of years.
He added: “That is a failing on all of us in not taking more decisive action to get the building into proper use. I look forward to the next council meeting where we will have the accommodation review, where there is hopefully a definitive option as to where this building is going in terms of an outcome.
“What I would ask is that the administration gives due consideration and learns from the reputational damage that’s been caused by identifying a preferred purchaser, who then spent God knows how much money in pursuing this purchase only to have the rug pulled from them at the last minute.
“That costs this council reputational damage. It was one of our constituents and it’s simply not good enough.”
Councillor said: “I’m happy to assure you that lessons will be learnt. I’m not 100 per cent sure of the full history - I think it probably pre-dates my election - but I will get information on this.
“If you have evidence the building is falling into disrepair and not in a safe and secure condition can you let me know.”
The Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland was established in 1990 and is maintained by Historic Environment Scotland.
Langgarth was labelled ‘at risk’ in 2012, but while monitored by the council since, the uncertainty of future use of the wider Viewforth site is said to have hindered progress in successfully securing any potential new owners of leaseholders.
In August 2018, the register noted: “The house remains disused and is mostly boarded up, security fencing surrounds the front/side of the house and a high boundary wall to the garden.
“Vandalism and forced entry remains an issue - a window had been broken prior to our visit. The main house overall remains in good condition. The service wing is in poorer condition.
“The risk level has been raised to moderate due to the ongoing vacancy and threat from vandalism.”
Last April, as reported in the Observer, locals reported an increase in unwanted activity and vandalism around the building, sparking council officials to step up patrols.
There is a serious risk that in failing to invest, the building will decay to an extent it will have to be demolished