The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Hope of new future for failed retailer’s building
Encouraging interest in former House of Beauly
Liquidators appointed for a failed Inverness-shire business have received an “encouraging level of interest” for its building.
The future of the House of Beauly centre was thrown into doubt in August when insolvency firm Begbie Traynor was appointed to deal with the liquidation of the 20-year-old business.
The firm’s collapse cost 14 jobs at Beauly.
The company sold quality fashions alongside Scottish food, crafts and gifts and was once named the best visitor centre in the UK.
Before its demise, the House of Beauly Ltd applied for planning permission to demolish its current buildingandreplace it with housing.
The application was rejected, however, by Highland Council planning officers under delegated powers as the land was allocated for business use. Residents were delighted with the news, as they had lodged a petition against the demolition proposals.
Liquidators are now working with interested parties to sell the rest of the business’s assets — including the building.
A representative of Begbies Traynor said: “There is an encouraging level of interest in the property assets, and these inquiries have been passed to the property agents, Ryden in Inverness. As is the case with all property negotiations, the process is confidential and it takes some time to establish which interested parties might make reasonable offers, and who the eventual purchaser might be.”
Local Highland councillor Helen Carmichael said she was pleased the planning application had been rejected as there was already overprovision of housing in that area of Beauly.
She added: “I am delighted with the progress that is being made. I have heard from one or two businesses that they have shown some interest in retaining the building.
“I am surprised the liquidators have taken so long to appoint an agent but I am glad things are moving forward now.
“The residents are pleased that, at the moment anyway, it appears the building will stay as it is.”