Nairn historic building put on sale by Highland Council
A decision to put an historic building in Nairn on the market has sparked concern within the community.
Previously operating as the local council’s finance office, the Italianate building in Courthouse Lane was vacated in late 2023.
It was stated then that Highland Council, which owns the building, was to explore options for disposal of the building.
Last week the building was listed for sale on both the council’s website and that of estate agents HSPC.
Offers are now being invited for the building, with a possibility of rental offers of around £10,000 per year.
The decision to sell has prompted concerns and during a meeting of Nairn West and Suburban Community Council last week members agreed to seek for the property to be taken off the market.
“It would be a real crime if it was sold,” community council vice-chairman Alastair Noble said.
Also chairman of Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) and lead for the local place plan (LPP) steering group he added that, while it is currently unrealistic for NICE or other community groups to put in their own offer for the builidng due to lack of funding, the council, which supported development of the local place plan, should hold off until options for the community use of the building are explored.
“This is one of our best architectural buildings,” he said, adding that NICE had expressed an interest in the building when it was vacated.
“It seems to me that this is officials at Highland Council just deciding to place it on the market - this is not what we have decided.
“All the discussions around the town centre are a jigsaw - such as the question of whether to move the library and where - and they can all be solved only if we work together.
“We should all sit around the table before any decisions are made.”
Community council secretary Graham Stuart said: “That building should not be getting sold.
“It’s a strategic building in the centre of town, that the LPP delivery team should be looking at potential options for as a priority, in case Highland Council decide not to take it off the market.”
The former Free Church school building dates back to 1847, and extends to around 98 square metres.
There was some investigation as to whether Nairn Library could move there as part of relocation plans, however it was found that the building wasn’t suitable.
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “An expression of interest in the Italianate Building was received by the Council in July 2023, on the knowledge that the Council planned to vacate the site later that year.
“The Council subsequently vacated the building in November 2023 and a site meeting was held in December 2023 with a number of community groups. A decision was taken in December 2023 that rather than proceeding to marketing the site, the opportunity would be given to the local community to understand if there was interest in an asset transfer.
“It was agreed at that point that the site would therefore not be marketed for 1 year. This was communicated to the local community and was subject of a press release.
“To date, there has been no asset transfer request received from any group in Nairn. The Council therefore needs to proceed to marketing the building.
“A decision was taken to proceed to sale in December 2024, in consultation with the local members.
“It should be noted that there is nothing to prevent a Community Asset Transfer from being submitted whilst the property is on the market. “