Thursday August 22nd 2024
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A plan of “deliberate neglect” is being pursued at an historic Borders village building targeted by thieves, it has been claimed.
St Aidans House at Gattonside was built in the 1820s by Sir Adam Ferguson, a close friend of Sir Walter Scott, and then expanded upon by George Bainbridge.
The house had several owners throughout the 19th century until finally becoming the headquarters of The Brothers of Charity some time in 1921.
The Brothers converted the house into a care home and orphanage as well as building the adjoining chapel.
The place was left in 2009, but is still owned by the Brothers and is in a somewhat dilapidated state.
Plans to convert the property into flats were put on hold back in 2019 for three years after an appeal for more time by a prospective developer was approved.
Now an application has been submitted to Scottish Borders Council by the Brothers under listed building consent to allow an extension of time for scaffolding to remain on site – as a new developer of the property is sought.
It’s a bid approached with scepticism by Ian Millar, of Canterbury House in Gattonside, who concludes that the charity’s ultimate aim is the building’s demolition.
In a response to the latest application, he says:
“In general, there is a local perception that the good Brothers are pursuing a plan of deliberate neglect.
“Virtually no maintenance of the grounds has been carried out for the best part of two years or more, not even some simple grass-cutting, and there has been some fly-tipping which has never been removed.
“Large trees overhanging the pavement are also a major issue for pedestrians. The stone cottages and the lodge house on the site, which with some renovation could have provided rental accommodation, have also been neglected.”
Mr MIllar adds: “Unless there is a valid reason for allowing the scaffolding to remain in place, I am inclined to the cynical view that the overall plan is to allow further deterioration of this listed building over time until demolition is the only option.
“I would anticipate a planning application for the erection of 40-60 houses shortly thereafter.”
In a submission with the application, Harper Macleod LLP, on behalf of the charity, say the latest application is needed in order to allow time for a purchaser of the building to be found.
They say the building has been unoccupied for some time, and despite extensive security arrangements the client has in place the lead roof has been stolen by thieves, leading to significant water damage.
The charity has incurred significant expense in erecting the scaffolding and installing the temporary roof – approximately £900,000 – and erecting and maintaining security fencing at a cost of approximately £120,000 per annum.
The initial cost of simply replacing the lead roof has been estimated at approximately £850,000.
The submission adds: “To sufficiently restore the roof will therefore involve addressing the wet and dry rot throughout the property, and given the vast sums involved, as well as the outlined security concerns, this will have to be completed by a developer as part of the overall restoration of the property under the development permission.
“The property is currently in the process of being marketed with Savills to allow for a purchaser of the site to be found.
“As a result of this wider background, our clients are submitting this application to allow for an extension of time in order that a purchaser of the property can be found, and renovations can be made by that purchaser, to the satisfaction of the council.”
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