HARDGATE Hall and the surrounding building site will be sealed off and marketed for sale, the Clydebank Post can reveal.

The Waterman Trust Company Limited, the developer behind the failed housing scheme, confirmed work was underway to repair fencing around the Glasgow Road site following a series of attacks by vandals.

The announcement came just two days after West Dunbartonshire Council threatened enforcement action on the Waterman Trust Company Limited, which abandoned the site in September 2012 after commencing the build of 25 flats.

At a meeting of the planning committee of West Dunbartonshire Council last Wednesday, councillors heard the local authority had the power to make the site safe and prevent any further damage to the listed Hardgate Hall. The costs could then be recouped from the developer.

Provost Douglas McAllister demanded action be taken to improve the eyesore site which has been a headache for Hardgate residents for almost three years.

But Hassan Sayani, of the Waterman Trust Company Limited, told the Post: “I think there is fencing being put around the perimeter to make sure that people can’t enter the site. It is being secured now and then will be sold as it is.

“The original plan to build social housing is not proceeding because the Scottish Government was not supportive of the proposal. The developers and our investors have invested more than £1.6 million in that site on the basis of developing social housing for the local community.” Mr Sayanai said the Hardgate site was a pilot scheme in a much larger project that would have seen £500 million invested in social housing across Scotland.

But the project’s success hinged on the ability to lease the flats to housing associations over a 20 to 30 year period — something the Scottish Housing Regulator would not allow.

Mr Sayanai added: “We waited for a year and half, or longer, before we got feedback that the Scottish Government was not supportive. Our investors invested £1.6 million in good faith waiting for approval which we thought would come. That money has been wasted and the Scottish economy has lost £500 million which is a great shame.” Mr Sayanai said the Waterman Trust Company Limited had no intentions to carry out other repairs at the site including Hardgate Hall which fell victim to fire in May. The disaster was one of several acts of vandalism carried out at the site, which had its original secure fencing ripped apart by vandals.

The Post understands the tiles on the roof of category C listed Hardgate Hall have been stolen, graffiti has been spraypainted on the walls and building debris is scattered across the site.

Provost McAllister, who has been contacted by a number of Hardgate residents about the matter, said: “We have had assurances and promises in the past from various developers. I think the local residents will be dismayed to hear that they have no plans to complete what they started. The fact that they put it up for sale, it looks like we won’t have a quick fix.” Councillor McAllister said council officers would continue to explore further enforcement powers that are open to them in the long-term whilst the Waterman Trust Company Limited would be invited to the planning committee in August to provide answers.

Planning permission was granted for a block of 25 flats to be built on the land surrounding Hardgate Hall in January 2011. The permission was granted on appeal to GK2 Developments Ltd, who later sold the site to the Waterman Trust Company Limited, which also acquired Hardgate Hall. The company began constructing the flats in March 2012 but scrapped the work six months later.