A former power station in Kirkcaldy is up for sale for the princely sum of just £1.
The only snag for potential purchasers, however, is they must have a development plan which incorporates the building’s historic frontage – something which could cost millions.
The Victoria Power Station site on Victoria Road has been earmarked for ambitious plans as part of Kirkcaldy’s charette and only serious bidders will be considered.
The B-listed former electricity power plant has lain empty for more than 80 years and is on the Buildings At Risk register.
It provided electricity for Kirkcaldy’s tram network between 1902 and 1931.
Plans to build an 80-bed nursing home on the site were approved by councillors in 2014 after it was revealed it would cost millions of pounds to repair the building’s facade.
But the proposal which would have seen the power station demolished to make way for the nursing home and a supermarket, with the creation of around 200 jobs, were put on hold last year following objections from Historic Scotland.
After months of discussions in a bid to find a solution, the building – owned by United Investments – is now back on the market.
David Queripel of Montgomery Forgan, the agent acting on behalf of United Investments, confirmed the move.
He said: “I has been put on the market for a nominal sum to gauge the interest and see if there is anyone who is willing to buy the building and restore the facade as part of its development plans.
“The developer is exploring all the options as Historic Scotland is adamant in its position that the facade of the building be retained.”
Councillor George Kay believes the power station should be demolished, however.
“We would all have loved to see the power station building retained but the cost of doing so is too prohibitive for any developer,” he said.
“Weighing up all the factors councillors decided that the best option was to allow demolition to go ahead.
“Nobody in their right mind would take on a project like this as it would cost a fortune.
“To quash the plans for a building which is not particularly good nor particularly relevant seems like madness.”
