Tuesday December 16th 2025
West Lothian Council's current headquarters
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Stuart Sommerville
West Lothian Council has agreed to sell its former Livingston offices for £500,000.
The sale will see the council take a £300,000 hit when its initial sale of Arrocher House fell through.
An earlier sale to a leisure wear firm- Prestige Leisure UK Ltd (PLUL-) for £800,000 fell through when faults in the building were identified.
A new buyer will carry out the remedial work needed around windows on the 1990’s built offices on the new town’s main thoroughfare – Almondvale Boulevard.
At this month’s meeting of the Executive committee, SNP group leader Councillor Janet Campbell asked Property Services Manager David Baird if the new price delivered best value to the council.
Councillor Campbell asked: “Obviously we’re all aware that the building was accepted for sale at a cost of £800,000. I appreciate the potential buyer pulled out due to the cost of remediation.
“Are we convinced that the cost of remediation is as outlined here – that it would be £300,000 or is there any possibility that West Lothian Council is losing because of this?”
Mr Baird replied: “It is a good question and quite rightly asked. We had undertaken a structural survey to determine the extent of issues as part of the process when we were still negotiating the sale.
“We have a good idea that the costs will be £300,000 and the new proposed purchaser has also done their diligence and are content with the figures as they are.”
Councillor Campbell pressed: “You are confident this is full market value and West Lothian council taxpayers are receiving value for money?”
“Absolutely”, replied Mr Baird.
Councillors approved the sale of the building to Asaad Properties Ltd which plans to refurbish it and re-let it as office space.
A report to the Executive said: “council officers have received an unconditional offer from Asaad’s Properties Ltd (APL) to purchase the property at a price of £500,000.
“That offer is based on the previous price agreed with PLUL, but includes a reduction in price to take account of the estimated cost of necessary works to remediate the defects. In making the offer, APL has taken professional advice in relation to the structural defects. The council has obtained its own professional advice on the structural issues and the advice supports the level of discount suggested by APL.”
The report concluded: “APL intends to refurbish the building and continue to use it as offices. This aligns with the council’s ambitions to generate local opportunities for employment and to see commercial uses retained in the area to benefit the local economy.
“The owner of APL is known to the council, having worked with officers effectively on other projects, and has a proven track record of delivering similar projects in other Scottish towns.”
Tweet Share on Facebook
