The future of the Countesswells development in Aberdeen is still unclear with selling agents remaining tight-lipped on whether a buyer has emerged.
The bids deadline date had been extended for the former Stewart Milne site to November 18 last year by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors.
However, seven months later the site is still listed on the website with no clarity on if it’s actually under offer.
Shepherd was appointed to find a new owner for the scheme – which includes plans for thousands of homes, as well as shops and schools – after Countesswells Development Limited (CDL) foundered in the wake of the oil and gas downturn and the Covid-19 pandemic.
In August last year, following months of marketing the company said with the “residential market improving” and “good levels of interest” a decision had been made to invite offers.
An original date of October 14 had been set for offers but it was then extended to November 18 with Shepherd managing partner Chris Grinyer saying it was due to “level of information for interested parties to consider”.
But no other details were given.
Troubled history of Aberdeen Countesswells development
CDL, set up to manage the development, was a subsidiary of the Stewart Milne Group (SMG).
It had been estimated that the value of the development once complete could be worth around £800 million.
The project was originally the vision of housebuilding tycoon and former Aberdeen FC chairman Stewart Milne who last year revealed plans to retire and sell his housebuilding empire.
The development was one of the largest and most ambitious to have been undertaken in Aberdeen in the area for many for several years when it was hit by recent unprecedented difficulties.
Around 900 homes have already been built at Countesswells by a mix of builders including Stewart Milne, Barratt, David Wilson Homes, Kirkwood and Chap Homes.
But the plan is for more than 3,000, meaning two-thirds of the development is still up in the air.
Shepherd has been contacted for comment.
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