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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Jack Thomson

Houston Village Hall declared 'surplus asset' and put up for sale by Renfrewshire Council

Houston Village Hall has been declared a "surplus asset" by Renfrewshire Council and will be put up for sale on the open market.

The two-storey traditional sandstone building from the late 19th century, which has a small extension, in Main Street is currently unoccupied.

A report was considered by councillors on the infrastructure, land and environment policy board on Wednesday.

Elected members agreed to deem the building surplus to requirements and authorise Alasdair Morrison, the local authority's head of economy and development, to advertise it for sale.

The property has a main hall on the upper floor and various smaller meeting rooms, as well as toilet and kitchen facilities.

It was tenanted by the Church of Nazarene from June 2011 until April 2022, according to the council paper, and sub-leased to a variety of community groups and organisations throughout that period.

Following the expiry of the head lease, the sub-tenants went on to find alternative premises – leaving the village hall unoccupied.

In 2010, a condition survey of the building found that the building required around £180,000 of investment over a 20-year period for it to remain in a good condition and fit for occupation.

The council said the level of investment needed in the property made the prospect of a community asset transfer – where responsibility for an asset transfers from the local authority to a community group or voluntary organisation – a "difficult route" for eligible bodies.

While this was initially considered and rejected on cost grounds by one organisation, there were no other requests.

The report added that the council does not have dedicated funds available to invest in the long-term sustainability of the village hall and was not aware of any local group or organisation that does.

Officers believe this would best be achieved by selling on the open market with an approved development brief which identifies factors that need to be considered in preparing proposals for the site.

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