£7m Birkwood Castle renovation reaches milestone

An artist's impression of Birkwood Castle post-renovation, which is due to be completed in April 2016. Picture: Contributed

Run-down and dilapidated buildings on the grounds of Birkwood Castle, said to be one of Scotland’s most breathtaking examples of Victorian gothic architecture, have been cleared in the first phase of redevelopment.

Developer Envestco intend to complete the revamp of the Lanarkshire property by April 2016.

Making the castle structurally sound and then fixing the building’s more visible fixtures and fittings will take up the next stage of renovations. The venue, which is aiming for four-star certification, will host weddings, conferences and other events.

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The surrounding 86-acre estate, to which the developer and hotel operator recently added a further 38-acre plot, will also get a major housing development by Envestco’s subsidiary Redwood Homes. It will include luxury homes and woodland holiday chalets, with development eventually totalling more than 70 new homes.

The residential development will take around seven years to complete at a cost of around £70m.

Situated in the village of Lesmahagow, Birkwood was built in 1860 as a family home before becoming a hospital for mentally-disabled children. After closing its doors in 2002 it fell into disrepair despite its listed status.

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