‘Asbo row’ kirk unsold at £1.2m asking price

By FRANK URQUHART
Published on 05/07/2012 02:12

A HISTORIC church next to the new headquarters of Aberdeen city council is going back on the market after failing to reach its £1.2 million asking price.

Greyfriars Church in Broad Street, which flanks the council’s new £65m headquarters at Marischal College, was put up for sale by the Church of Scotland last year.

The disused kirk was at the centre of a row with the city council when John Stewart, then city leader, claimed the Kirk authorities in Edinburgh had been so obstructive during the redevelopment of Marischal College that they deserved an antisocial behaviour order.

He claimed the Kirk tried to secure a five-figure fee for allowing cranes to cross the roof of the building and described the asking price of £1.2m as “stupid.”

The Kirk had originally set a closing date for offers of 7 June. But it has now readvertised the building for sale.

A Church of Scotland spokesman said: “Despite the level of interest in the church, we did not receive what we considered to be an acceptable offer. As a result the property will be readvertised.” He said he was not aware of any price change.

Meanwhile, work started this week on the first phase of the demolition of the council’s former HQ at St Nicholas House on Broad Street.

UK firm Safedem has begun stripping back the 1960s building. A contract for the remaining demolition work on the main 14-storey tower block, lower office buildings and basement car park is out to tender.