THIS REPORT RELATES COUNCIL TO ITEM 20 ON THE AGENDA

STIRLING COUNCIL ASSETS AND SUPPORT

1 DECEMBER 2011 NOT EXEMPT

REQUEST FOR AN AREA OF LAND AT COUNTRY PARK, INCLUDING CRAIGEND CASTLE, TO BE DECLARED SURPLUS

1 SUMMARY

1.1 The Management Committee has approached the Council with a proposal for safeguarding the future of Craigend Castle, which is within the Country Park. The Castle has deteriorated over time and is now in a ruinous condition and is fenced off to prevent any access.

1.2 The Management Committee is requesting that the Council considers the Castle and surrounding area as surplus to requirements and available for sale.

1.3 In addition, the Management Committee is asking the Council to carry out the marketing on its behalf.

2 OFFICER RECOMMENDATION(S)

That the Council agrees:-

2.1 to declare that that the area extending to 1.897 acres including Craigend Castle is surplus to requirements and available for sale;

2.2 to carry out the marketing on behalf of the Country Park noting that they will reimburse the Council’s costs if the sale is unsuccessful;

2.3 to any monies received from the sale of Craigend Castle being reinvested into Mugdock Country Park; and

2.4 to the Head of Assets and Support using his delegated powers in respect of the sale of the property.

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3 CONSIDERATIONS

Background

3.1 Mugdock Country Park near extends to a total of approximately 514 acres, as shown in Appendix 1 and is owned by both Stirling Council and Council as shown on the Plan. The Stirling Council area of the Country Park is leased to East Dunbartonshire Council for a period of 50 years from 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2049 with East Dunbartonshire picking up the costs.

3.2 The Country Park is run by the Mugdock Park Joint Management Committee. Councillors Graham Lambie and Colin O’Brien represent Stirling Council on the Management Committee with Councillor O’Brien being the Vice-Chair. Mugdock Country Park is Stirling Council’s most popular visitor attraction, with approximately 600,000 visitors per annum.

3.3 Within the Country Park is Craigend Castle which was built in 1812 and at that time would have been an impressive country house, see Appendix 2. The property began to deteriorate in the 1950’s and much of the original structure has now gone and the building is roofless. In 2007, Historic gave the building a C (S) Listing due to it being the remains of what was a well detailed and impressive country house. The ruinous building is fenced off to ensure the safety of the public and continues to deteriorate.

3.4 The Park’s Management Plan has seen significant investment in a number of structures through the past twenty years, including , Craigend Walled Garden and the Stables Complex. Craigend Castle now remains the last major derelict building in the Park to be addressed by the Management Committee. The lack of financial resources and the continual deterioration of the Castle has led the Country Park Management Committee to consider looking at options to safeguard the future of the building, with the sale of the castle being preferred.

3.5 The Management Committee has approached the Council to investigate the possibility of selling the Craigend Castle ruin to see if any proposals could come forward to safeguard its future. The sums of money required even just to stabilise the castle are significant - to stabilise the shell of the building an estimate was provided in 2004 which suggested a cost in the region of £224k was required. After discussion with the Management Committee, an area of land extending to 1.897 acres, see Appendix 3, surrounding and including the castle has been identified which might be made available for disposal. The 1.897 acres has physical boundaries on all sides, which define the extent of this site. The disposal of the site has a number of issues that require to be resolved including agreeing a suitable access to the castle to service the site.

3.6 Craigend Castle has been the subject of a number of enquiries over the past few years. While nothing came of these enquires, the Country Park Management Committee has now received a formal approach to acquire and redevelop the property. This therefore prompted a much wider debate within the Management Committee on potential uses and the impact of the site’s disposal on Park management. It was recognised that any interest in developing the property, with the substantial investment necessary, would require a formal disposal by Stirling Council. While a sale would inevitably have implications for the Park, it is proposed that there would be no vehicular access through the Park, and that access would be taken directly from Craigallian Road as shown in Appendix 3.

Mugdock Country Park Management Committee Request

3.7 The Management Committee has considered the future of the Castle at its meetings on 27 March 2011 and 7 June 2011 and is agreeable to the principle of the Castle and the land surrounding it, totalling 1.897 acres, being sold. The Management Committee recognises that this would require:

a) Stirling Council to agree to declare the site surplus; and

b) amendment of the original Lease between Stirling Council and East Dunbartonshire Council to enable the proposed sale of the Castle.

3.8 The Management Committee also requests that Stirling Council undertakes the sale of the area including incurring any advertising costs in creating the marketing pack. There is merit in Stirling Council co-ordinating the disposal as it is the planning authority at the Country Park. The marketing pack would include comments from Roads, Planning and the Management Committee and other relevant information.

Marketing

3.9 In marketing this ruined Listed Structure, it would on a similar basis to that undertaken for the Museum Hall in whereby the Council put together a marketing pack. The Council appraised each offer on the basis of monetary offers, the quality of the proposal, a schematic design solution and information to show the ability to provide the project, which included a financial statement.

Other Issues

3.10 The Management Committee has requested that any proceeds from the sale of the Castle, less fees and costs incurred by Stirling Council, are reinvested back into the Country Park. By ring fencing the money any proceeds would not be available for other Stirling Council capital projects.

3.11 Should there be any abortive fees because there are no interested parties the Management Committee has offered to refund Stirling Council.

4 POLICY/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

Policy Implications

Equality Impact Assessment No Strategic Environmental Assessment No Single Outcome Agreement Yes Diversity (age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation) No Sustainability (community, economic, environmental) Yes Effect on Council’s green house gas emissions No Effect Strategic/Service Plan No Existing Policy or Strategy No Risk Yes Resource Implications Financial Yes People No Land and Property or IT Systems Yes Consultations Internal or External Consultations Yes

Equality Impact Assessment

4.1 This report was considered under the Council’s Equality Impact Assessment process and was assessed as not relevant for the purposes of an Equality Impact Assessment.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

4.2 The contents of this report were considered under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 and a strategic environmental assessment is not required as this is about land transfer. Strategic Environmental Assessments may be required when the site is redeveloped.

Single Outcome Agreement

4.3 The disposal of the site may underpin Strategic Topic 2 – Making Stirling a Place with Jobs and Opportunities for All, and Strategic Topic 6 – Making Stirling a Place with a High Quality Environment.

Other Policy Implications

4.4 Although there is fencing surrounding the castle preventing the public having access there is always a potential risk of injury from a ruinous building.

4.5 There is the potential risk of time, effort and expenditure being made to safeguard the future of this property with little or no return.

Resource Implications

4.6 The disposal of land may generate a capital receipt which the Management Committee has requested be reinvested into the Country Park. 4.7 The Management Committee has offered to reimburse any abortive fees and costs incurred by Stirling Council.

Consultations

4.8 Consultations have taken place with officers within Governance and Resources, Mugdock Park Management Committee, Environment Services and Economy, Planning and Regulation.

Council and Executive Only Tick ( ) to confirm

The appropriate Portfolio Holder(s) has been consulted on this report 9 (SF) The Chief Executive/appropriate Assistant Chief Executive(s) has been 9 (RM) consulted on this report

5 BACKGROUND PAPERS

5.1 None.

6 APPENDICES

6.1 Appendix 1 – Location Map of Mugdock Country Park.

6.2 Appendix 2 - Photographs showing condition.

6.3 Appendix 3 - Map showing area of land extending to 1.897 acres.

Author(s) Name Designation Telephone Number/E-mail

Colin Scott Estates Surveyor, Strategic (44)2661 Asset Management

Robert Hunter Development Co-ordinator (44)2751

Approved by Name Designation Signature

John Risk Head of Assets & Support

Date 21 November 2011 Service Reference

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APPENDIX 2

Photographs Showing Condition of Craigend Castle

Historic

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APPENDIX 3 Map showing area of land extending to 1.897 acres