Closing date set for Gateway bids

Anita Rogan, St Andrews Citizen, 25 August 2000

The £9 million Gateway Centre in St Andrews has attracted loads of interest from potential purchasers.

Despite a shaky start, the future of the ill-fated Gateway Centre at St Andrews is now looking more secure.

With a large number of businesses registering an interest since it went on sale last month, a closing date has been put on the building for September 1.

After being on sale for just six weeks, the £9 million building - which is currently lying empty - has attracted a great deal of interest both at home and abroad.

Its arrival on the property market at the start of the Open Championship ensured it received maximum attention from interested companies, including Fife Primary Care NHS Trust, who considered it as a possible site for the new health centre.

So far, 63 sets of particulars have been sent out and 14 companies have been shown around. At least four interested parties are expected to put in a bid.

A spokesman for Grant Thornton, the receivers for the company behind the centre - St Andrews International Ltd - said that they were confident of getting a sale, which was why the decision had been made to set a closing date.

‘‘People have been bowled over by the quality of work and the finish of this building’’ he said.

Matt Henderson, a partner with Grant Thornton, added that the timing had been ‘‘quite helpful.’’

‘‘A lot of people with an interest in golf have been in town during the sale period, which has given them a chance to look around the centre.’’

A mixture of British and international companies have registered an interest, many of whom have established golfing links.

‘‘Most are organisations who already have some involvement in golf and are looking to expand their business portfolio in this sector,’’ he explained.

Refusing to be drawn as to whether the centre would make its cost price of £9 million, Mr Henderson said they were confident of getting a ‘‘suitable price.’’

‘‘We hope it will make the £9 million, but we are looking for sensible - and lively - offers.’’

Brian Gilmour, a senior surveyor with Chestertons, the Glasgow-based company responsible for marketing the Gateway, said that they, too, were ‘‘very pleased’’ with the response to the centre.

Again, he said that much of this could be put down to the Open, which had brought a huge number of high-quality clients, many from overseas, into the town.

‘‘In terms of proximity to the famous Old Course, the Gateway’s geography certainly hasn’t harmed it, as many of the clients have golfing connections’’ he said.

‘‘A number of them had actually heard of it through members who paid to join the St Andrews Golfing Society, which was to have been housed in the upper level of the centre.

‘‘We always expected there would be a lot of interest in this building, but we have absolutely no idea whether it will make the asking price. We will have to wait and see.’’

A spokesman for Fife Council’s Economic Development Service said that he hoped ‘‘the liquidators for St Andrews International find an occupier for this important economic asset for the town, and that the building is brought into use.’’

He added: ‘It is crucial that a new operator is attracted to replace the jobs as soon as possible.’’

A local school of thought is of the belief that the fate of St Andrews International serves as a warning that there is a limit to the level of golf-related business which the town can continue to sustain.

However, the spokesman added that it was impossible to draw a conclusion from this one example on the ability of St Andrews to accommodate these developments.