A battle to remove a C listing from a historic Aberdeen building has been dismissed by the Scottish Government.
Camphill Estates owns the derelict Aberdeen Convalescent Hospital – given C-listed status by Historic Environment Scotland (HSE).
The building, empty since 2014, has had a turbulent history.
It has been the city’s first convalescent hospital, an American School and later a Waldorf School.
But in 2014, after a damning inspection report, the Waldorf School was put into liquidation and the building fell into the hands of the estate which owns the land.
Owners Camphill Estates had appealed to the Scottish Government to overturn the protected ‘C-listed’ status at the building – over fears buyers would be put off.
They argued that potential purchasers will be put off if they are limited in what alterations they can make to the structure.
Documents lodged by Camphill Estates state: “The school has now been closed for six years without interest from developers.
“We believe a similar approach is appropriate in this case and listing places a further unnecessary burden on the site.”
However, the Scottish Government this week dismissed the appeal.
Stuart West wrote in his decision notice that the former hospital is of “special architectural and historic interest”.
He adds: “The request to remove the listing on the grounds that it will make redevelopment more difficult is not a valid grounds of appeal.
“The listing recognises the special architectural and historic interest of the building and would not prevent its future redevelopment.”