Hopes important Grantown building will get new lease of life
Community leaders are hoping that an auction for a knock-down price will finally find a buyer for one of the grandest buildings on the High Street in Grantown.
Grandview House is going under the hammer at the end of this month with a guide price of just £260,000 – a huge discount on last summer's sale asking price of more than £450,000.
But it is claimed that it could require up to £1m to revive the fortunes of the 45-bedroom property which used to be the Palace Hotel before being converted into a care home in 1989.
The vacant property is described as 'vulnerable' in a new blueprint to safeguard the town's historic conservation area of which Grandview House is described as a 'landmark' and forming 'a very important part of High Street'.
Bill Sadler, chairman of The Grantown Society, said: "A successful bid and conversion could be hugely beneficial for a town with its shortage of accommodation for residents, incoming workers and visitors.
"It is an iconic and very central building.
"Although there is very limited parking currently available there, solutions to that should not be too hard to overcome."
Grantown Community Council chair Ewan McGregor told the Strathy: "Obviously we're hoping that the building will sell and be brought back to life.
"Ideally, it would be great to see it become a hotel once more, as it was originally, but we will have to wait and see.
"Although, as has been said, a lot of money would have to be spent on it – some saying up to £1m even – but I would think that at such a knock-down price there are lots of feasible options.
"What we wouldn't really want to see is the place simply become a block of flats, unless it were part of a project to provide affordable accommodation for, say, local employees.
"Let's just hope the building is sold and can become useful once more."
Mark Tate, chief executive of Cairngorm Business Partnership, shared the sentiment.
He said: "It is such a shame to see this iconic building in the centre of Grantown lying idle, particularly when we continue to face a crisis in the availability of affordable homes for people who want to live in, work in and care for the Cairngorms National Park."
The CBP, he said, through the recently established Cairngorms Housing Partnership continued to work to improve the situation.
"We will shortly be announcing that two more families, bringing the total to six families of local workers, now have homes thanks to our innovative mid market rent pilot, working in partnership with The Highland Council and Highland Housing Alliance," said Mr Tate.
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"Whoever purchases this building, we would be keen to work with them to see if we can find ways to further improve access to affordable homes for local workers."
The operators of the nursing home went into administration in March, last year.
The informed opinion was that the building was going to prove beyond the necessary upgrades required by government care sector regulations.
A few weeks later it closed altogether.
Shepherd Chartered Surveyors is handling the sale of the property which dates from the late 1800s and now mainly comprises single occupancy with en-suite facilities.
Neil Calder, partner in Shepherd's Inverness office, said: “The property is ripe for refurbishment and conversion, subject to securing the appropriate planning consents.
“While the property has most recently operated as a care home, other potential uses including conversion to residential flats, hotel, hostel or tourist accommodation may be possible.”
The substantial property is to be auctioned on Tuesday 28 February at 2.30pm.
• Interested parties should register at: https://www.sdlauctions.co.uk/buy-property/telephone-proxy-internet-bidding/.
Building was once home to the Palace Hotel
The condition report in the draft Grantown Conservation Area management plan currently out to consultation states: "Reflecting the commercial status and growth of Grantown, the former Palace Hotel was constructed from around 1894 in three stages encompassing the site of the original Black Bull Inn.
"It forms a minor landmark on the High Street, its three-and-half storey façade nominates as an exception to the one to two storey traditional properties.
"The exterior of the building appears to be in reasonable condition; however, its complex roof form requires regular maintenance.
"The building retains considerable original architectural detail and elements including cast iron finials, decorative slating, high level decorative timber to dormers and eaves, and timber sash and case windows generally."
