Major Viewforth area revamp to be discussed

Aug 22 2012 by Kaiya Marjoribanks, Stirling Observer Wednesday

DEMOLITION of one of Stirling’s largest office buildings and the building of a major new road through Stirling are to be discussed by councillors today (Wednesday).

Stirling Council is set to vacate the 40-year-old New Viewforth offices by the end of June 2013 as part of its project to move staff to other council buildings or share premises with other public bodies.

But a decision will have to be made on whether to sell the building, which opened in 1972, or to demolish it and market the cleared site. The listed Old Viewforth building will remain intact.

The decision could also have some bearing on the proposed construction of the long-proposed Viewforth link, which would join St Ninians Road to Burghmuir Road and complete Stirling’s inner ring road.

In a report due before councillors at today’s meeting officials say: “Market opinion would suggest it will be challenging to achieve reuse of the New Viewforth building.

“However, the only way to fully test this view is to market the building for sale as it is. Retaining the building once it is vacated, without demolishing it, has an associated risk in the form of ongoing revenue cost liabilities.

“Wider master-planning of the site and its environs is likely to provide better options in terms of overall use, particularly in relation to the potential Viewforth link road.

“On balance this report summarises a preference for demolition over retention.”

Councillors will be asked to agree to the demolition of New Viewforth once it is vacated but to ask for a further report to be brought back to the council’s executive before the end of this year with a proposal for how the costs of the demolition will be met.

In terms of the road, officials are set to tell the meeting: “The inner ring road remains an important element of the approved city transport package as it enables traffic reduction on Dumbarton Road/Port Street, Wellgreen Road/Craigs and Newhouse/Randolph Terrace/St Ninians Road/Kings Park Road.

“A redevelopment of the Viewforth site may facilitate the completion of this link at a reduced cost to Stirling Council.”

Councillors will be asked to agree to the construction of the link road and to include it in the proposals for redeveloping the Viewforth site.