A flat in Castle Douglas’ iconic clock tower is set to be sold off.
Members of the town’s common good fund committee have finally admitted defeat in their attempts to find a tenant or commercial let for the property, which has been empty for nearly a decade.
The move will now be the subject of an eight week consultation period.
The flat was previously used by the council’s homelessness service, however they stopped using it for temporary accommodation in 2010.
A report for the committee last year revealed that, despite it having been empty for so long, it was in “surprisingly good” condition, while it came with the “unique feature” of being accessed through the clocktower itself.
Members were told last month that the council’s options for the flat were “limited” as they are unable to act as a social or private landlord.
Earlier in 2019, officials were given the go ahead to hold discussions with the current tenants of a nearby common good shop to see if they were interesting in a commercial sublet of the clocktower flat, but this produced “no formal interest”.
The report noted that Dumfries and Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust are interested in buying the flat and they would then carry out a “significant renovation”. The charity, which aims to increase the amount of affordable housing in rural communities, would then “let the property at an affordable rent to applicants with a clearly identified housing need”.
The report’s author, ward officer Melinda Dolan, stated: “If members agree to dispose of the flatted property it will ensure it is effectively maintained and managed into the future which will make a contribution to the future sustainability of Castle Douglas town centre. In addition, the sale will generate a capital receipt for the common good fund that could be allocated to meet other locally identified priorities.”
