Work to demolish a fire-hit mansion in Aberdeen that has been repeatedly targeted by vandals will be start next month.
Kepplestone House on the city’s Viewfield Road, close to the Gordon Highlanders Museum, was badly damaged in a fire in October 2014.
Nobody was hurt in the incident, but large sections of the listed building’s roof were destroyed, and three schoolboys were charged with wilful fire-raising.
The 19th century property was originally the home of Aberdeen granite merchant Alexander McDonald, but even before the fire two years ago it had been derelict for some time.
The site is currently owned by developers Stewart Milne Homes, who last year launched a planning application to transform it into four homes and seven flats – only for the proposal to be thrown out by councillors in April.
Since then, residents in the nearby area have grown increasingly concerned for the safety of vandals and youngsters who have been spotted breaking into the building and its grounds.
The developers have now confirmed the house will be demolished and the site made secure and inaccessible to intruders by the end of October.
The rear portion of Kepplestone House that was unaffected by fire will be retained with new wall built around it.
A spokeswoman for Stewart Milne Homes said: “We can confirm that demolition will start in October.
“We are looking at a number of different possible options for the site.”
Hazlehead, Ashley and Queen’s Cross councillor Martin Greig said works to make the site safe should have commenced months ago.
Mr Greig said: “The site has a history of problems with wrong-doing, and it’s an important responsibility of the owners to make their site safe and secure.
“The abandoned building has caused considerable problems and disturbances for years, and patience has run out in the community.
“Local people are still feeling very anxious that another incident like the fire that took place in 2014 could happen again.”
