Springwell House, 1 Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, EH11 2LA

*Closing date set for offers - 12 noon, Wednesday 30 October 2013*

Description
Springwell House is an impressive C(s) listed building located on a prominent corner site, originally designed as two buildings with Magdalene Asylum facing Gorgie Road and Girls Reformatory facing Ardmillan Terrace. The buildings date from1863 with a 1930’s and more modern extension linking the two buildings. The building is currently occupied by the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian, both of which will begin relocation in August 2013.  The impressive lodge building situated at the main entrance from Gorgie Road precedes the main building and is set behind a leafy garden area, buffering the property from the road. Parking is situated to the front and rear, accessed from Gorgie Road to the north and Ardmillan Terrace to the east of the property. The striking stone Baronial building accessed from Gorgie Road has been divided into office accommodation on the ground, first and second floor with a tower room on the third floor. To the rear of the property there are two single storey training rooms (originally laundry rooms) situated to the south-west of the site. Accessed from Ardmillan Terrace the building further extends over three levels providing office accommodation, waiting rooms, community and treatment rooms on the ground floor, office space, meeting rooms and a large community hall on the first floor and further office space on the second floor. A copy of the Asbestos Register Report and Energy Performance Certificates are available upon request.

 

Rates  Lothian Valuation Rateable Value Date Description Occupier

Reference

EPC                The City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian have two energy performance indicators for the property, as the buildings are

operationally separate, with a rating of E and F respectively.

Planning         The site contains buildings which are listed category C(S) and it should be noted that there is a presumption against demolition. The listing covers the main building with its various additions, the eastern block (now largely enveloped by later additions), the lodge and the boundary walls (including northern entrance piers). Although altered, the building is of local architectural and historic interest. Whilst there is a presumption against demolition, the removal of the 1930s link block and the modern sections wrapping around the rear and east side of the east block may be permitted. Other limited demolition may be possible subject to detailed justification. It is possible, subject to suitable recording of the vestiges of historical interest, that the two single storey laundry wings to the south-west could also be demolished, but it is noted that this is one of the few areas where any historic interior remains.

The exterior of the main building and particularly the roof and façade should remain intact. The façade and roof of the east block should also be retained. Boundary walls and railings should remain intact. The lodge house should remain intact.

Any development should maintain a wide green space along Gorgie Road as currently exists and respect the setting of the listed buildings. Possible uses for the site would be housing or other uses which would not materially affect the living conditions of nearby residents. A mix of appropriate uses within the site may be possible providing future residents’ amenity can be protected. Policies relating to uses and development form are contained within the Edinburgh City Local Plan. This can be viewed at:- http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/178/local_and_strategic_development_plans/1005/edinburgh_city_local_plan/1. More detailed guidance can be obtained by referring to the Council’s Planning Guidelines at:- http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/directory/30/planning_guidelines.  The production of a design statement would inform an appropriate development form on the site whilst taking into account the setting of the listed buildings, trees worthy of retention, the likely impact upon the character of the area, access and parking provision. It is recommended that a pre application proposal be submitted for comment prior to the submission of any formal application. Pre application information can be sent to the following e mail address:-localdevelopments.west@edinburgh.gov.uk For further advice on the acceptability of uses for the redevelopment of the site, please contact Helen Martin on (0131) 529 3517 and for questions relating to the Listed building status, please contact Stephen Dickson on (0131) 529 3529.

 

Contact/Viewing         For more information or to arrange a viewing of the premises please contact:  Debbie Scott, Estates Surveyor, on 0131 529 5928 email: debbie.scott@edinburgh.gov.uk or Frances Maddicott 0131 529 5828.

Location

Springwell House, owned jointly between the City of Edinburgh Council and NHS Lothian, is situated on the West site of the City of Edinburgh on a prominent corner site at Gorgie Road and Ardmillan Terrace, approximately 1.5 miles west of the City Centre on a main arterial route. To the south of the property there is a medical centre and breast screening clinic which share an access with Springwell House. The surrounding location contains a mix of residential and commercial uses. Traditional stone tenement buildings provide residential accommodation on the upper floors with retail use on the ground floor along Gorgie and Dalry road to the north. Gorgie City farm is directly to the west, a popular local attraction. Additional land uses nearby include the Caledonian Brewery, a Church, cemetery and Fountain Park Leisure Centre within a few minutes’ drive. The wider area contains a mix of other non-residential uses.  Gorgie is a popular residential location, giving easy access to the city centre, Haymarket train station, city bypass and Edinburgh Airport. There is excellent local shopping in nearby Dalry and Gorgie with all City Centre amenities within 1.5 miles.

Accommodation

In accordance with the RICS Code of Measuring Practice, the approximate gross internal areas are as follows:-

Total approximate Gross Internal Area: 4147.2 sq. m (44,639.8 sq. ft.), Gross Site area: 0.639 Hectare (1.578 Acre)

Parking Spaces: Approximately 55 car parking spaces are available with 38 to the front of the building and 17 to the rear.

Terms

*Closing date set for offers - 12 noon, Wednesday 30 October 2013*

Terms             The property will be sold by way of disposition and associated Deed of Conditions containing such reservations, burdens and conditions as the City of Edinburgh Council’s Head of Legal, Risk and Compliance may consider necessary to protect the interests of the joint owners. These may include reservations regarding minerals, services etc. and provisions regarding maintenance, insurance, uses, etc. The sale is subject to sitting tenants, specifically the gas governor and substation.  As part of the development at Springwell House the purchaser must provide five parking spaces for the breast screening clinic to the rear of Springwell House.

Method           The subject is offered for the heritable interest of the property with the benefit of vacant possession, subject to sitting tenants. It should

Of Sale           be noted that the price stated in any offer will be deemed net of any relevant Section 75 contributions and any proposed demolition. The sale will be undertaken in a two stage process as follows:

Stage 1           Interested parties will be notified of a closing date and requested to submit Heads of Terms for the subject. The stage 1 Heads of Terms should include the following information:

• Headline Price
• Schedule of abnormal costs
• Proposed timescale for acquisition
• Dates for capital receipt to the Council and NHS Lothian
• Proposed timescale for development
• Conditions of purchase including board approval procedures
• Confirmation of funding
• Details of specific due diligence
• Proposed layout, schedule of accommodation, proposed use, indicative layout drawing and style of accommodation.
  • The joint sale will require to meet the terms of the NHS Scotland Property Transactions Handbook which requires NHS Lothian to obtain the best possible price and, where appropriate, include clawback & overage provisions.

Stage 2           After a full assessment of the Heads of Terms received at stage 1, a shortlist of parties will be invited to clarify their offer at the second stage. The short listed parties will be provided with a draft Offer to Sell which they should complete and return to the City of Edinburgh Council. Following the second stage closure date, it is intended that a preferred bidder will be selected and granted an Exclusivity Period in which to conclude missives.

Fees    In addition to the sale price, the purchaser will be expected to pay the Council and NHS Lothian’s reasonably incurred legal costs plus the Council’s Corporate Property costs of 2% of the purchase price.