DEVELOPERS behind a scheme to turn a Scottish gothic castle-turned hospital into a hotel have gone in to administration.

Johnston Carmichael have been appointed as administrators of Birkwood Estates, owners of gothic 18th century castle Birkwood House in South Lanarkshire.

The historic property, described as the most haunted in Scotland, was due to be converted into a hotel with the £80 million redevelopment scheme also including new holiday lodges, residential homes and a park area.

Birkwood House formerly belonged to the MacKirdy family who also owned the Isle of Bute. In the 1920s it became a psychiatric hospital which it continued as until 2002.

Planning permission to redevelop the site as granted by South Lanarkshire council in early 2015 and it was anticipated that the new hotel could open in 2019.

Donald McNaught, partner at Johnston Carmichael, commented: “We’re hopeful of being able to find a buyer who recognises the opportunity presented by the site, so the future of this local landmark can be secured.”

Birkwood Hospital. Image by Paradasos – Used under Creative Commons.

PLANNING officers in Milton Keynes have given planning permission for part of a 1970s office building to be turned in to a boutique hotel.

Norfolk House is one of a pair of matching office buildings that were designed by Milton Keynes Development Corporations own team of architects during the construction of the new town.

Documents submitted to the council by owners Owner Commercial Estates Group (CEG) say that “vast quantities of the existing floorspace” at Norfolk House and twin Ashton House have been marketed with little to no success and some of the property has been vacant since 2007.

Now a ‘change of use’ planning application to turn over 25,000 sq ft of the town centre property into a boutique hotel to be run by an unnamed operator has been granted by Milton Keynes council.

Image: Google

BIRKENHEAD town hall could become a brand new boutique hotel if proposals published by Wirral Council become a reality.

The local authority’s Cabinet agreed this week to back a new strategy for boosting economic growth in the area over the next three years which would include turning the Grade II listed property in to a hotel.

The former headquarters of the County Borough of Birkenhead, built in the 1880s, is situated in Hamilton Square which boasts the biggest largest collection of Grade I listed buildings in a square outside of London.

Currently underused as the borough’s Register office, the Strategic Regeneration Framework says:

“The listed buildings within Hamilton Square are a key asset for Birkenhead and require significant investment to realise their full potential, including investment in their surroundings to reflect their quality.

“Birkenhead Town Hall overlooks the square and provides a major opportunity for re-use as a boutique hotel and conference facility which would sit alongside a mix of commercial and the re-emergence of a residential focus in the square.”

Wirral Council’s Cabinet agreed to support the strategy at a meeting on 2nd October and it will go to the full council to be adopted.

Birkenhead Town Hall image by Andrew Hurley/Flickr. Used under Creative Commons licence.