New lease of life for gatehouse

Feb 21 2008 By John Rowbotham

AN historic building attacked by vandals is to get a £120,000 lease of life.

Councillors agreed on Tuesday plans to refurbish the Category C Listed gatehouse at the entrance of Hamilton’s Bothwell Park.

The impressive building is now empty and boarded up.

Members of the council’s finance committee were told it had been repeatedly targeted by vandals and set on fire.

According to council finance director Linda Hardie, the building was structurally unsound and neither lettable nor habitable.

She added that because of the gatehouse’s proximity to the town’s War Memorial, it would be preferable to lease the property rather than sell it.

This would enable the council to retain a measure of control over the site and access arrangements.

Ms Hardie explained that because of access problems, it was unlikely that the building would prove attractive as a home.

She recommended its use as offices for a “professional services business”.

Refurbishment would cost about £120,000 said the report.

If was estimated that the building would yield rental income of £13,000 a year.

Ms Hardie said they would advertise for a private sector development partner for the project.

The building would be let to the developer on a lease of at least 25 years, the committee were told.

In exchange for paying for the upgrade, the developer or tenant would be given a rent-free period.

Ms Hardie said it was proposed that the refurbishment would be self-financing, and any income generated be retained within the Hamilton Common Good Fund.