Council to sell vacant Grade II listed mansion that has become ‘substantial liability’
A search is on for a new owner to revive and restore a Grade II listed mansion house in the heart of Plymouth.
Pounds House in Central Park is in need of a new lease of life and Plymouth City Council, which owns the building, said it has looked extensively at options but “has not identified a use for it and has now decided to open up its future to other interested parties”.
In the past five years the council has spent £490,787 on the property, including work to the roof and rainwater goods, security, electrical installations, gas and water hygiene inspections/testing and insurance.
The authority said that removing the property from the council’s books would remove a “substantial liability” for maintenance. The mansion house has been empty since 2017 and significant external work is needed.
The future of the house has had a number of false starts. Investigation works were due to start in 2020 but were put on hold to allow the building to be used as part of the Mayflower 400 celebrations.
There were further delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 some work carried out to address more pressing issues including repairs to very old window frames.
The council’s cabinet member for housing, cooperative development and communities, Chris Penberthy, said: “We constantly review our properties and assets to make sure they provide value in meeting the needs of our services to residents and helping us deliver priorities for the city.
“This involves both buying and selling properties to best meet the needs of the residents we serve.
“We have not identified a council use for the building that would warrant large scale investment and need to focus our efforts elsewhere. It is a shame, but we need to be pragmatic and offer this as an opportunity which we hope others will grasp. We want this building to be loved for the long term.”
The council has a large portfolio of assets, from land to office blocks, retail parks and shops, which support the local economy and thousands of jobs.
As a landowner it keeps its properties under constant review, assessing them on whether they are used, the cost of upkeep, whether it fits in with the council’s and the city’s priorities.
As well as disposing assets, it also acquires them, depending on the needs of the city, its economy and its residents.
The house is expected to be sold at auction in the next few months.
