Council takes enforcement action - Eastgate hostel building

The Highland Council’s Building Standards Team has today (Wednesday, 11 February 2015) issued a Dangerous Building Enforcement Notice to each of the owners of the Eastgate Hostel, Inverness.

The hostel was destroyed by fire in April 2013 and has since lain empty as the owners decide what to do to repair it.

Today Mott MacDonald Consulting Engineers notified the Council of the findings of their recent structural survey, which revealed that the building is unsafe. This is because the structure has deteriorated and its integrity compromised due to the length of time it has been left unrepaired.

Consequently, the Council’s Building Standards Team has issued a Dangerous Building Enforcement Notice to each of the owners to expedite work on the building to make it safe and reduce any risk to the public.

In the meantime the Council is arranging for additional security fencing around the front of the building to ensure the public are kept away from any risk. This should not restrict access along Eastgate and it can still be used for vehicular access when required.