Noranside open prison will be put on the open market.
The establishment closed at the end of October after a Scottish Prison Service review which declared the one-time fever hospital surplus to requirements. The decision was greeted with disappointment by the prison officers’ union and the community.
It has now emerged that Graham & Sibbald has been appointed by SPS to market the property for sale.
The Noranside site extends to 267 acres and includes a former working farm, although recently the land has been primarily let on seasonal agreements. There are is also woodland and a former market garden.
The main house is B-listed and forms part of the extensive buildings on the site, with a total floor area of 8,000 square metres.
Graham & Sibbald partner Andrew Dandie will lead the sale.
He said: ”We would hope to be in a position to bring the property to the open market in early 2012 but early interest has been encouraging for what is an unique property.”
Community leaders have said they would not like to see Noranside lie empty for any length of time to avoid the risk of buildings deteriorating or being vandalised.
After the closure one Angus veteran suggested the jail would be ideal for a rehabilitation centre for injured service personnel.
Kirriemuir former Scots Guardsman Jim Ritchie’s idea drew strong early support from The Black Watch Association and Angus Provost Ruth Leslie Melville.
She said the jail’s existing facilities and its location near the A90 would be an advantages in any effort to create a facility which would help the nation meet its ”moral duty” to the nation’s recovering servicemen and women.
The early swell of support has yet to materialise into any firm proposal, however, with calls for a feasibility study yet to be answered.