The final figure paid by a Scottish Government land agency for an Angus sporting estate has been revealed.
Forestry and Land Scotland spent £17.5 million on the deal for Glenprosen, north of Kirriemuir.
The figure was confirmed as part of a series of questions lodged in Holyrood around the private sale.
The rumoured figure for the 16,500-acre estate was as high as £25m.
Holyrood questions
But Scottish Land Reform Minister Mairi McAllan set out the exact costs in a response to North East Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr.
She said: “Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) purchased Glenprosen Estate for £17,555,000 and incurred legal costs of £47,495 and surveyors cost of £6,802.
“The total cost of the acquisition was £17,609,297.”
Glenprosen is one of the five Angus glens.
The estate offers grouse-shooting, deer stalking and salmon fishing.
Owner Robin Batchelor approached several potential buyers after deciding to offer Glenprosen for sale.
He has not commented on the sale, which has now concluded.
And Ms McAllan admitted “off-market and confidentiality arrangements imposed by the seller” meant FLS could not consult with the local community before the deal was done.
But the Minister says the public will be asked for their views on the future use of the land.
Community consultation
She said no changes have taken place at Prosen yet.
“In due course Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) will require to have an approved Land Management Plan (LMP) in place for the area acquired at Glenprosen,” added the Minister.
“That LMP will need to have been approved by Scottish Forestry (SF), following an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and full public consultation with all relevant statutory/local stakeholders, including the community.
“Until the LMP process and associated consultation has been completed there is no certainty over the level or nature of new planting at Glenprosen and therefore any costings would be speculative,” she told Mr Kerr.
Five jobs will be affected in the deal, but FLS say three staff were offered tenancies on the estate.
“Neither the Scottish Government nor Forestry and Land Scotland had cause to terminate any contracts and consequently no payments were made to individuals, contractors or companies,” added the Minister.
“Termination of the previous employment was undertaken by the seller, when they wound down their business and FLS has no knowledge of the costs incurred.”
FLS manages forests and land for the Scottish Government.
It says the Angus estate will consolidate its wider land holding in the area.
FLS see strategic advantages for future woodland and biodiversity creation from the acquisition.
Special relationship
News of the sale prompted claims the public had been left in the dark over the deal.
And Mr Kerr says it is now important the local community are kept informed of future plans for Glenprosen.
He said: “I find it incredible that the local community weren’t consulted on this extraordinary purchase.
“It was the secrecy that surrounded this deal that prompted my questions to the Parliament.
“It looks as though the SNP-Green Government has turned the taxpayer into a so-called ‘green laird’ in a move that would seem to be contrary to the SNP’s land reform objectives.
“But this is no simple parcel of land – it’s both a home to those on the estate, and an ecosystem with centuries of stewardship.
“So this deal has got to do right by the community who have that special relationship.
“FLS need to clearly articulate their intentions and inform the people of Angus of their aims for Prosen and what it’s going to look like in future”.
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