CONFUSION that may have been caused by a Latin phrase surrounds a planning application for the controversial redevelopment of Castle Toward in Argyllshire.
The former residential school has been at the centre of a bitter battle between local group South Cowal Community Development Company (SCCDC) and the castle’s owners Argyll and Bute Council.
SCCDC wanted to develop the building for the use of local people, using cash from the Community Land Fund, but the cash-strapped council was holding out for a seven-figure sum that was beyond the community buyout’s budget.
The council rejected the SCCDC bid and named entrepreneur Keith Punler and his wife Denice, better known as Denice Purdie of Purdie’s Soaps, as preferred bidders. They are believed to be willing to pay up to £1.1m plus additional long-term cash for the building, which was used as an outdoor school serving Glasgow and other communities for many decades.
The Punlers have lodged a planning application entitled “Change of use from Class 8 (residential institution) to Class 9 (dwellinghouse), including ancillary housekeepers' accommodation and Sui Generis use as a commercial/leisure events venue.”
The phrase Sui Generis seems to have complicated matters – "It means 'of its own kind’ but that could be anything, and people have maybe jumped to the wrong conclusions,” said a council source.
The Punlers, who live in Balado in Kinross, say they have made just this initial planning application, with others to come.
Those who oppose their plans include Councillor Michael Breslin, a strong supporter of SCCDC, who stated on his blog: “I have made a formal objection this morning to this application.”
He also released a letter from Alan Stewart, chairman of SCCDC, to Argyll council leader Dick Walsh.
Stewart wrote: “When you rejected the offer of £850k made by SCCDC in an effort to secure the estate for the community, you stated publicly that 'nothing less than £1.75 million would do'. However the council very shortly after accepted an offer of £1.1 million and a vague promise that a further £400k would follow subject to satisfactory planning consents.
“As there is no guarantee of the remaining funds being forthcoming, and indeed Audit Scotland raised this risk as being significant, it is only right to assume that the final sum realised will only be the £1.1 million.
"Since Actual Reality left the estate, the council has spent over half a million pounds on security and maintenance, meaning that the net receipt to the council coffers will be in the order of £600k, and it now looks like there will be minimal return to the area in the form of jobs or community benefit.
“The handling of the community buyout has done serious reputational damage to the council according to Audit Scotland."
He added: “The estate has not yet been sold and no money has changed hands. The plans put forward by the prospective purchaser for the mansion house are so at odds from those proposed to the council and the community as to constitute a material change, and as such would allow the council to withdraw from the sale.
“I would urge that you urgently consider taking this action and seek an owner who would have the community at the heart of its plans.”
However, Denice Punler is adamant that her original plans for a spa and retail centre, among other facilities, will be included in future plans.
She said: “The first of several forthcoming planning applications have just been lodged for Castle Toward.“This application reflects a mixed use to allow us to commence events later this year.
"More applications will follow relating to the further development of the estate in the coming months and weeks in accordance with our development strategy. These will include the retail, spa and manufacturing together with development of luxury accommodations.
“The reason for coming forward at this very early stage, ie before purchase has been concluded, is to allow us to confirm booking enquiries for weddings already requested."
“Public access will be enhanced with the approval of these consents, access will be formalised to major elements of the Estate, allowing an increase in public access from what was previously available under the premises operation as an outdoor centre.”
It is expected that future planning applications will explain exactly how ‘sui generis’ the new establishment will be.
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