Custom House, Dundee (Hansard, 14 December 1992)

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total cost of the refurbishment recently carried out to that part of the Custom House building in Dundee occupied by Customs and Excise staff; which Government Department paid for the refurbishment; and how long the refurbishment programme took from start to finish.

§ Sir John Cope
The total cost of restoration work to Dundee Custom House was some £1.4 million including fees and VAT. The scheme was initiated by the Property Services Agency which spent £0.4 million up to March 1990. Changes in the arrangements for managing Government property projects were introduced in April 1990. The remaining costs were shared between Customs and Excise—£0.5 million—and the Department of the Environments directorate of property holdings—£0.5 million—although PSA continued to run the project as an agent. Following preliminary planning and consultation with the historic buildings and monument division of the Scottish Office, work started on site in October 1988 and took three and a half years.

§ Mr. McAllion
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Department fixed the selling price of the refurbished part of Custom House in Dundee; what that selling price is; and which Government Departments will have to incur any financial loss resulting from sale at a price below the cost of the recent refurbishment.

§ Sir John Cope
Dundee Custom House is currently for sale, together with the adjoining property owned by the port authority. In accordance with normal practice, the selling price has not been fixed. Offers will be invited by a closing date once a reasonable level of interest has been generated. The selling price will depend on market interest and potential alternative uses.
Disposal is the responsibility of the Department of the Environments directorate of property holdings. Together with the port authority, they have instructed James Barr and Son as selling agents.
Work to restore the stonework was necessary to make the building safe and, as a matter of Government stewardship of historic, buildings, to preserve its fabric. The effects of the work on the prospects of sale were a secondary consideration. It was never intended to recoup the cost of accumulated maintenance responsibilities through sale proceeds.