Iconic hall fails to sell

Bidding for the Category B listed building reached £148,000 - which was £2000 less than the guide price. But while there was, for a moment, a glimmer of hope of a new owner and new plans for the historic Port Street building, the auctioneer was unable to let the hall go after it did not reach the reserve price – this would have been a maximum of £165,000. Since its construction in the early 1870s, the hall has been a market, public meeting venue, cinema and most recently a warehouse for a local seed merchant. Previously, readers of this paper had recalled the building being a popular dance venue, staging fight nights and having soldiers occupying it as a billet during WWII. In recent years, similarly to other iconic buildings in the town, the hall has sat empty. Its windows are boarded up and plants have sprouted from the walls. Discussions about potential developments have all ended, with expensive remediation costs often proving to be a main prohibiting factor. Most recently, in 2019, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy and Resources Committee agreed to grant almost £80,000 from the Town Centre Living Fund to Cunninghame Housing Association for a feasibility study to bring the derelict Port Street building back into use. Shepherd Commercial Property Auctions ran last Thursday's auction. The property summary said: “The subjects comprise a Category B listed three-storey building together with a range of single storey extensions, offering residential or mixed-use redevelopment potential (STC). “The original building dates from the late 19th century and is of sandstone construction surmounted by a pitched and slate clad roof. “We estimate the original building extends to a gross internal area of circa 260 sq.m. (2,800 sq.ft.) per floor, therefore circa 780 sq.m. (8,400 sq.ft.) in total. “The subsequent extensions appear to have been added during the course of the 20th century and are mostly of brick and block construction under metal truss asbestos clad roofs. “The site extends to the footprint of the buildings together with parcels of land, including a cobbled courtyard off Port Street and the curtilage of a demolished cottage off Carlyle’s Place. “We estimate the total site area extends to circa 0.181Ha (0.45Ac) or thereby. “Guide Price £150,000.” Asked about the Albert Hall and listed building regulations, a Dumfries and Galloway Council spokesman explained: “Listed buildings are protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for listing buildings, while Dumfries and Galloway Council acts as the local planning authority and considers applications for Listed Building Consent. “The council has previously granted planning permission and Listed Building Consent for the redevelopment of the Albert Hall for residential and office uses. While those permissions have since lapsed, any new proposals would be considered on their merits through the normal planning process. “The historic character of Annan and other places depends on historic buildings being re-used rather than removed. Responsibility for the upkeep of listed buildings rests with their owners, and listing is intended to protect buildings while allowing appropriate adaptation and re-use. Demolition of a listed building requires consent and is only considered as a last resort under strict national planning criteria. Owners or other parties can also apply to Historic Environment Scotland for a review of a building’s listing.”