Councillors approve sale of former primary school to Men’s Shed group
A community asset transfer application was approved today by Members of The Highland Council’s Communities and Place Committee when they agreed to the sale of the former Maryburgh Primary School to Maryburgh Men’s Shed group for £1.
Chair of the Communities and Place Committee Cllr Allan Henderson said: “Community asset transfers contribute to one of the Council’s key strategic priorities which aims to encourage community-led and run services involving more people in local decision making.
“Successful community asset transfers are great news for our local communities and The Highland Council remains committed even in these difficult COVID times to facilitate applications.”
The property which was surplus to Council requirements was put up for sale on the open market and attracted the interest of the Men’s Shed as a potential community asset transfer under the Community Empowerment Act. Councillors have agreed to the transfer on the grounds that the local community benefit from the proposed alternative use outweighs the potential capital gain to the local authority of a potential sale.
Maryburgh Men’s Shed group intention is to create a facility that will have a specific focus on tackling social isolation among the growing number of older members of the community irrespective of gender. The group intends to redevelop the building for use as a workshop and meeting space - the latter of which they will lease to other community groups to support their running costs.
The transfer will be made available in late 2021 to early 2022 on conclusion of the former school grounds being used as a compound by The Highland Council for housing construction on the former school site.
Community Asset Transfer requests can be made under the Community Empowerment Act and the sale of the former Maryburgh Primary School was approved today by Highland Councillors subject to terms of transfer.
Details on community asset transfers in Highland and how to apply for them can be found on the council’s website at: www.highland.gov.uk/cat or please email cat@highland.gov.uk