Property Disposal Generates £1.16m for Stirling Council
Stirling Council secured £1.16 million last year through the disposal of properties and land deemed surplus to its operational needs.
The council’s property disposal initiative is designed to ensure that eligible buildings are either sold, leased, or redeveloped to facilitate productive use, thereby supporting local communities and fostering economic growth.
The authority generated revenue from the successful disposal of several properties, including the former Beech Gardens care home located in Torbex, the former Croftamie Nursery, as well as the Cowane Centre and Wolfcraig office building in Stirling.
Progress on Regeneration Projects
In addition to these disposals, the council reported advancement on multiple prominent regeneration projects, notably the Viewforth site and the land adjacent to Forthside Bridge, both situated within Stirling.
The preferred bidder for the eight-hectare Viewforth site has entered into a conditional legal agreement nearing completion. A planning application for this site is anticipated to be submitted during the summer.
Financial and Community Benefits
Councillor Gerry McLaughlan emphasized the benefits of the disposal scheme, stating:
"(The scheme) enables us to reduce ongoing costs for maintenance, security, insurance and utilities at these sites, and brings them back into productive use for communities, supporting regeneration efforts.
It's vital that we keep our property portfolio under constant review so that our assets are delivering best value for the public pound and that our buildings are fit to serve the community and support our employees to deliver services."
Focus on Reuse and Leasing of Buildings
The council is also prioritizing the reuse of buildings by leasing out under-utilized properties. Leases have been agreed for the former Balfron local office, the former Cowie community centre, Dunblane Burgh Chambers, and the East Argyll Centre in the Braehead area of Stirling.
Councillor McLaughlan further commented:
"This is an important part of the programme as leasing out under-used buildings for other uses can bring considerable community benefits."
He noted that the 1314 Boxing Club has taken on the lease for the East Argyle Centre.
Additional Developments and Future Plans
Other significant developments include the former Strathendrick care home in Balfron, for which planning permission has been granted to demolish the existing structure and construct six houses.
The former District Court in Stirling was marketed during the previous year, with a final agreement expected early in the new financial year.
