A mothballed prison hall in Perth is set to go on the open market in the spring after authorities finished clearing the site.
Friarton Hall, off Edinburgh Road, was closed in March 2010 because it was underused and had inadequate facilities. Despite calls for it to be reopened to house more offenders, it has remained shut since.
A Scottish Prison Service spokesman said: ”The premises have been declared surplus but have not been placed on the market yet. We would expect it to go on in the spring time when all our equipment stored there has been removed.”
It has not been determined at what price it will be advertised.
The former HMP Friarton, near the bridge of the same name, was merged with nearby HMP Perth in 1999. Although separate from the main prison building, it was considered part of the complex and was managed by the governor of Perth.
It later became a young offenders institution and was considered a national ”top end” facility for category C prisoners arriving from Polmont young offenders institution to serve the remainder of their sentences and prepare for release.
Prisoners had the chance to work with teaching staff to gain qualifications and skills, while partnerships with the likes of the Prince’s Trust and Jobcentre Plus gave further access to training.
The SPS said the site will be maintained by staff during its closure.
At the time it was closed Friarton Hall was only a quarter full, with its inmates moved to the improved Polmont. It was closed at the same time as the former Noranside open prison in Angus, when the SPS decided to move all the inmates to Castle Huntly at Longforgan.