Weedingshall was originally constructed as a family home in the early 19th century though in more recent timeswas used as children’s home and then an educational facility.
The building is of sandstone construction under a pitched and slated roof and is arranged over three floors - lower ground, ground and first floor. The current arrangement offers three principal apartments, two smaller offices and male and female toilets on the ground floor. The first floor, accessible via a central stair, is laid out as a series of seven teaching rooms/offices in addition to a staffroom with kitchenette, toilets and kitchen. The lower ground floor has a further classroom area, a kitchen /utility room and a store. There is a garage to the west of the main building and to the east of the property is an area of cleared ground.
Windows are a mix of timber framed single glazed and double glazed units. The building will require significant upgrading.
Externally, the tree lined driveway leads to a tarmac apron in front of the building. Much of the site is covered in mature trees with a stepped lawn to the rear and a flat area to the east suitable for parking and further garden ground.
A scale plan and layout plan of the ground and first floors are available on request.
Potential uses, subject to all necessary consents, including planning, are conversion to a substantial single house or flats or other business use.
Location
The property is located on the western edge of the village of Polmont, approximately three miles east of Falkirk. Weedingshall is accessed from the A803,Polmont Road, via a tree lined driveway. The ground to the west of the property formsGrandsable Cemetery and a new distillery is nearing completion to the north. To the south is an open field which may be used for the extension of the Gransable Cemetery in the future. The map below shows the general location of the property and the following plan shows more detail of the extent of the subjects being offered for sale.
Accommodation
SITE AREA - 1.57 Hectares (3.88 Acres).
FLOOR AREA (Gross Internal)
Ground Floor - 260 sq.m approx.
First Floor - 240 sq.m approx.
Lower Ground - 108 sq.m approx.
Planning
The site of Weedingshall is located out with the urban limit as defined by the Falkirk Local Development Plan (LDP), is within an area of Greenbelt and is also located within the buffer zone for the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site.
The reuse of the existing building is something that would be welcomed provided that the proposed use was compatible with the neighbouring cemetery land use in particular. Potential buyers should note that the cemetery may be extended in the future to include land to the south of the property.
This site is not included for housing in the current Local Development Plan and policies in the Falkirk Local Development Plan are unlikely to support housing in the countryside/greenbelt unless there are exceptional circumstances. However, if a proposal is to be a redevelopment of the existing buildings for residential or business use this is likely to be acceptable, subject to detailed design considerations.
Development on this site beyond the current footprint of the existing building is unlikely to be supported unless it is demonstrated that the proposed use is one which requires a countryside location and would not undermine the role of the Greenbelt. The site of the former Brodie Centre, a former children’s home, which previously lay on the eastern side of the main building in particular would not be considered for development beyond parking or garden ground associated with the existing house.
The existing access of the A803 Polmont Road, which also serves the cemetery, would currently be acceptable for a proposal involving the re-use of the buildings. Potential buyers should however be aware that a Transport Assessment may be required depending on the proposed use to support any redevelopment of the site, in order to properly assess the likely transport impact on the wider network, and to ensure that adequate transport infrastructure is provided to serve the site.
To discuss any proposals, potential purchasers should make their own enquiries of the Falkirk Council Planning Department on 01324 506070 oremail dc@falkirk.gov.uk
Terms
Price - Offers in the region of £200,000 are invited.
Rateable Value - £22,500.
EPC - The current Energy Performance Certificate Rating is F.
Access and Maintenance - The purchaser will gain a right of access over the road shaded blue and yellow on the sale plan. The new owners will be responsible for paying for 40% of the cost of maintaining the stretch of access road indicated in blue and 30%of the cost of maintaining the stretch of access road shaded yellow.The purchaser will also be responsible for maintaining and creating stock proof fences on the boundaries however Falkirk Council will be responsible for maintaining the retaining wall on the western side of the property facing onto Grandsable Cemetery.For the benefit of Gransable Cemetery, Falkirk Council may enter the tree lined area adjacent the retaining wall to cut or maintain trees that they consider,at its sole discretion,require to be cut down or lopped.
Offers - Formal offers to purchase the heritable interest from Falkirk Council must be in Scottish Legal Form. Offers should include some details of proposed use/development. The purchaser accepts the subjects in their existing condition.
The enclosed ADDRESS LABEL must be affixed to the offer envelope (if no address label enclosed, please contact us and we will supply same) and offers must be received prior to the closing date of: XXXm, Friday 24th August 2018
Offers should be submitted to:-
Chief Governance Officer,
Falkirk Council,
Municipal Buildings,
West Bridge Street,
Falkirk
FK1 FRS