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Island, country estate, pubs among scores of Scottish businesses owned by off-shore firms

The Isle of Eriska, Hotel, Spa & Island.
The Isle of Eriska, Hotel, Spa & Island.

An island, pubs and a country estate in the north and north-east are among scores of properties now in the hands of offshore firms.

An investigation has revealed there are at least 44 estates, dozens of hotels and pubs and a number of student accommodation complexes across the country that are owned by firms registered to tax havens.

In total, Scottish property is held in 22 different tax havens around the world, by 776 companies, according to the Sunday Post.

Among them is the Argyll island Eriska, 300 acres in size with a five star hotel, which was purchased by Hong Kong firm Creation Gem International Limited for almost £1million in 2016.

Ardfin Estate on Jura is now reportedly owned by Australian hedge fund manager Greg Coffey – property records reveal the Jersey-based firm Ardfin Lodge Investments bought 13 properties on the island for close to £8m overall.

Meanwhile, The Black Dog pub in Bridge of Don is owned by Stonegate Pub Company, which is based in the Cayman Islands and has 13 pubs and hotels across the country.

And Garioch Home is one of 17 care homes that was bought over by Jersey’s Healthcare Property Holdings Limited and Healthcare Holdings Limited for £70m in recent years.

Britain’s remotest pub, The Old Forge in Knoydart, was sold to Maltese firm Celtic AliceLimited in October 2012 for £250,000.

Meanwhile, Waverley Road, a detached house in Nairn, was bought over by Gilchrist Investments in 2006.

The property was valued at £250,000 when the British Virgin Islands firm took control in 2006 but is now estimated to be worth more than £336,000.

And the former Glebe Street swimming pool in Inverness is now under the ownership of Dutch firm Vastint Hospitality B.V which took over the reigns at the end of last year for £2.82m.

Plans have now been submitted to convert the site into a 180-bedroom hotel and car park.

Records reveal there have been 1,271 purchases – some of consisting of multiple properties – with sums paid ranging from £132m to just £1.

Last year alone, firms based overseas bought more than £200m worth of Scottish land and buildings.

The practice is legal and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by any of the companies involved.

However, it is estimated that offshore ownership has cost the HMRC millions in capital gains tax revenue.

It can also reduce the amount of inheritance tax the owner has to pay and can allow them to keep their identity secret.

Critics argue it hits the government in the pocket and cuts the money it can spend on public services, while also potentially inflating house prices.

Other experts warn that in some cases tax havens are used to hide money.

In the cases that have been highlighted there is no suggestion this has happened.

The Scottish Government has stressed that Capital Gains Tax was the responsibility of its UK counterpart but said it was committed to tackling tax avoidance in Scotland.

Businesses owned by offshore firms

Ardfin Estate, Jura

The Black Dog, Aberdeen

Eriska – island and hotel

Garioch Home, Inverurie

Glebe Street, Inverness

The Old Forge, Knoydart

Waverley Road, Nairn

Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh: The Princes Street site was bought by Abu Dhabi firm Twenty14Holdings for £85m earlier this year

Charlotte Street, Helensburgh: A car garage owned by Jersey-based Hawkeye Properties 501 Limited

Fowler Road, Broughty Ferry: A street in an industrial estate, owned by Isle of Man company Carnoustie Limited, part of Springfield Property Fund Plc which counts Alex Salmond and Sir Alex Ferguson among its shareholders

The Howgate Centre, Falkirk: The shopping cente was bought by Luxembourg-based firm LSREF3 Tiger Falkirk II S.A.R.I in 2014

Rental flats, Glasgow: 22 rented properties owned by Bahamas company KPM Estates Limited

Sauchiehall Building, Glasgow: Retail complex, owned by Luxembourg-based Sauchie Propco S.A.R.L

Simpson Loan, Edinburgh: A luxury holiday flat owned by St Lucia firm Ashmore Investments Limited

Whytbank Tower, Selkirk: A castle owned by Panamian company Balshamill Sociedad Anonima

Amazon centre, Dunfermline: The global giant’s distribution centre is owned by Spectre Properties, from Jersey

Howard Place, St Andrews: Holiday home owned by Bahamas firm Fire Dragon Limited

Buchanan Castle Golf Course and stables: Owned by Montrose Estates, registered in Jersey

Thistle Marches Centre, Stirling: Shopping centre, owned by Jersey-based USB Nominess Limited