Chamber and committees

The acquisition of land for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project, under compulsory powers, was undertaken solely by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.

As at 23 September 2013 a total of £8.532 million has been paid out of the public purse to settle all claims for Land Compensation related to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link project. This includes payments with respect to: acquisition of land owners interest in land and property; disturbance; fees; injurious affection; and severance.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17215 on 30 September 2013. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for written questions can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The land at 57 Clark Street in Paisley was not bought back by the original owner, Airlink Security Parking Ltd, as they had ceased to exist.

The disposal of 57 Clark Street was undertaken by the relevant officials in compliance with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.

I refer the member to the answers to the following parliamentary questions, which notified the Scottish Parliament of the intention to dispose of surplus land and the processes which would guide the disposal: S3W-31078, answered on 4 February 2010; S3W-32289, answered on 19 March 2010; S3W-32290, answered on 19 March 2010; S3W-33248, answered on 23 April 2010; and S3W-36879, answered on 9 November 2010.

All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for written questions can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The cost of the land and property acquired by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link and subsequently transferred to the Scottish Government in May 2008 was as follows:

With the exception of Plot 97 above, all of the costs reflect the full and final settlement, agreed with the original owners, with respect to the acquisition of the land owners interest in the land and property.

Plot 93 included 3 buildings: a vehicle maintenance building (9,032 ft²); main office building (9,881 ft²) and a storage building (1,917 ft²). These buildings were included in the overall cost of £880,000.

Plot 101, 102, 103, 107a (part of) and 108: the valuation was based upon the plots having rights of access from the main road. SPT secured access rights but these were temporary and only for GARL.

The purchase prices were based upon a professional valuation of the plots by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s property services consultants.

The following original owners bought back land which had been acquired through compulsory purchase:

Kenyart Limited

J & M Taylor Holdings Limited

It should be noted that the original owner of the land at 57 Clark Street Paisley was Airlink Security Parking Limited, a company purchased by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport in February 2008 and which has since ceased to exist.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-17209 on 30 September 2013. All answers to parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website. The search facility for written questions can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Disposal by public auction offered the most effective means of achieving full market value for the site.

The sale prices were as follows:

Plot 93, when purchased by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT), included three buildings: a vehicle maintenance building (9,032 ft²); main office building (9,881 ft²) and a storage building (1,917 ft²). These buildings were subsequently demolished in preparation for the Glasgow Airport Rail Link branch line works and therefore it was only the land which was available for resale.

Plot 101, 102, 103, 107a (part of) and 108 valuation of sale price was on the basis of the plots having no access from the main road.

The sale prices were based upon a professional assessment by Transport Scotland’s property services consultants of the current market value of each plot.