Argyll and Bute Council moves to secure Royal Hotel

ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL will lead the way in an attempt to save Rothesay town centre’s Royal Hotel, which has been in serious disrepair for several years.

The rescue package involves an agreement for the building to be sold on to a new owner, while the council will provide grant funding to carry out essential maintenance and repairs, bringing the building up to scratch in preparation for redevelopment.

The building, currently owned by George Hart and situated in the heart of the town, hit the headlines this year when a passer-by was injured by a plate glass window that had fallen from the top floor of the former hotel. Mr Hart claimed that he had invested money into structural repairs to try and keep the building safe, but that he did not have enough money to cover the cost of the total work needed, and criticised the local authority for not doing enough to help the situation.

But now, as part of the council’s town centre regeneration plans, a deal has been agreed to try to secure the future of one of the town’s historic buildings. Local councillor Len Scoullar said “This unique set of circumstances required a pro-active and decisive response from the council, and that is what we have agreed. This is arguably one of Rothesay’s most prominent buildings, which has become not only dilapidated but also unsafe.

“There is a significant risk that its continued decline would undermine the wider regeneration benefits we are working so hard to achieve in the town. This could potentially have a significant negative effect on the local community and economy.”

In August, it emerged that local building contractor George Hanson had expressed an interest in buying the hotel after concerns were raised that it might not survive another winter. However, Mr Hanson told local paper the Buteman that he would only take the building on with grant assistance.

The new owner, as part of this latest development, has not yet been named.

Rothesay Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) – part of the CHORD regeneration project – was provisionally awarded £1.5m from the Heritage Lottery Fund in May to carry out restoration works on buildings surrounding the town’s Guildford Square. Argyll & Bute Council has already committed £2.8m to CHORD, which will also regenerate Rothesay’s waterfront.

The state of the Royal Hotel was seen as an obstacle to any future regeneration plans, and pressure had mounted on the local authority to take decisive action.

“One [alternative] is that the building remains under its current ownership. However, given that the owner has indicated he does not have the funds to maintain it, the council would have to find significant amounts of money – on an ongoing basis – to keep it safe and secure,” said Cllr Scoullar.

 “The other is that the council takes ownership of the building through a compulsory purchase order. However, the financial risk is again significant, as we would need out carry out a scheme of repairs to upgrade the building to an acceptable wind and watertight state so as to allow it to be marketed. It would also mean that the council would adopt and retain all the risks associated with the building.

“It is therefore imperative that we grasp this window of opportunity which largely addresses the risks to the council. That’s why we have agreed this common sense solution.” He added.

Once ownership of the building has been transferred, an application will be made to Historic Scotland for a Buildings Repair Grant.

Councillor Isobel Strong, Chair of Bute Conservation Trust, said: “I am pleased at the decision about the Royal Hotel, which is such a prominent building on the seafront of Rothesay and is the first thing people see coming off the ferry.

“Had this decision not been taken and the Royal Hotel continued to deteriorate it would only undermine the THI financially, but literally, as it links into Guildford Square, which is the focus of the THI.”