WORK is underway to transform the site of an abandoned hotel in Slamannan into a community greenspace, after Falkirk Council utilised the new ownerless property transfer scheme.
The local authority said that it ‘heralds a new era for neglected buildings’, with the scheme making it easier for councils, public bodies, and community groups in Scotland to transform neglected and ownerless buildings for local benefit.
Formally launched by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR) on March 1, the ownerless property transfer scheme (OPTS) removes the obstacles normally associated with bringing ownerless property back into use.
Similar to community asset transfers, OPTS transfers require strong local support and a solid business case, ensuring clear public interest and community benefits. A panel of advisers evaluates each transfer.
By working collaboratively with KLTR, one of Scotland’s oldest state institutions, officers from Falkirk Council used the scheme to gain ownership of the former Royal Hotel in Slamannan earlier this year.
The council paid just £1 – and covered KLTR’s external costs – for the abandoned and derelict hotel that lay empty on the corner of The Cross and High Street for more than two decades.
Preparatory work began on July 15, with the hotel’s chimneys demolished by hand. Heavy machinery was then brought on site to demolish the building on July 16. The entire site is expected to be completely levelled and cleared by Friday (July 19), the council said. The land will then be transformed into a green space and the community asked to take part in a consultation exercise to decide how the space should be used.
Leader of Falkirk Council, councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, said, “The hotel was an eyesore that gave a negative impression of the area and was in such poor condition that it could not be renovated. As a council we were determined to fix that by taking ownership of the building and demolishing it. We’ve committed regeneration funding for Slamannan and can now work with the local community to revitalise this prominent site in the heart of the village.”
The council’s project was one of 15 pilot projects – and the only local authority initiative – chosen by KLTR to benefit from the scheme before it was formally launched. Other projects include the community-led purchase of a derelict petrol station in Muirkirk and the Lion Chambers, a derelict Grade A-listed art nouveau office block, in Glasgow.
Head of Invest Falkirk, Paul Kettrick, whose team worked with the KLTR to secure the Royal Hotel site, urged other councils with ‘similarly challenging buildings’ to use the scheme. Adding, “It’s great to see the collaborative efforts of the council and the KLTR come to fruition to remove this derelict building and provide a future opportunity to support the regeneration of the village centre.”
Bobby Sandeman, chief executive officer of KLTR, commented, “I am delighted that the people of Slamannan will benefit from our new ownerless property transfer scheme by Falkirk Council ensuring that the site of the old Royal Hotel is used to benefit the local community. The scheme is off to a fantastic start and this demonstrates that, through excellent collaboration, ownerless properties across Scotland can be brought back into productive use at minimal cost. I look forward to seeing the completed site in due course.”
