'It's another Highland Clearances' – mega-rich Dane taking over area, claims Skerray native pipped to ex-bank purchase
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A north coast native has hit out at business tycoon Anders Holch Povlsen over plans to convert the former Royal Bank of Scotland building in Tongue into flats to be used as staff accommodation.
Skerray native Ellen Henderson, who lives in Thurso but is keen to return to her home area, said it was yet another example of the Danish entrepreneur taking properties out of reach of local families.
Super-rich Mr Povlsen (pictured) already owns multiple landed estates in north and north-west Sutherland – an area that suffers from depopulation.
Mrs Henderson and her husband David, a retired Dounreay worker, were themselves keen to purchase the former bank, which she described as her dream family home.
However, they were outbid by Mr Povlsen, the sole owner of environmental and tourism company Wildland Ltd.
She said: “I am so upset that this beautiful majestic property that should be a home, is going to be turned into flats. Anders Holch Povlsen is just taking over Tongue and nobody is stopping him. He just wants everything. It is another Highland Clearances.
“It breaks my heart to see houses being bought up and turned into holiday homes to be lived in for a few weeks of the year.”
The Royal Bank of Scotland announced in September 2018 that the Tongue branch, which had operated for more than 100 years, was to close.
The handsome, stone-built property came on the market in 2019 and the Hendersons were so keen to get it that they offered £180,000 - more than double the asking price of £75,000.
“We went to see it three times and were so excited. We always wanted to go back home and when the bank came up, it just seemed perfect,” said Mrs Henderson.
“The estate agent said there were eight offers and we were very close – would we like to go higher? I have since been told that it is illegal to do that in Scotland.
“We went up to £191,000 and were told “get the champagne out”. Then I got a phone call to say we didn’t get it. We later learned it had gone to Mr Povlsen for £203,000.
“I know other local people did put offers in and I wouldn’t have minded so much if someone local had got it.”
So strongly did Mrs Henderson feel that she met Mr Povlsen’s wife Anne in person and “begged” her to re-sell the bank. She also raised her concerns in vain with Wildland officials, the selling agents and the bank.
“Mrs Povlsen said she would ask Anders but she really just brushed me off,” said Mrs Henderson.
Mr Povlsen’s Sutherland land portfolio includes Polla, Eriboll, Kinloch, Strathmore and Ben Loyal Estates, amounting to some 64,334 acres in total and purchased at a reported overall cost of £27.4 million.
The estates come with assorted homes and lodges with tourism related business run from some of the properties.
The application to turn the bank into flats, which was lodged in the name of Ben Loyal Ltd with Highland Council in October, has brought back Mrs Henderson’s disappointment.
The plans are to refurbish the former bank and provide a “multi-functional” commercial space on the ground floor and two “staff accommodation flats” on the first floor.
No objections have so far been received, although Tongue Community Council has raised concerns over vehicles belonging to the flat occupants causing an obstruction.
Mrs Henderson revealed that she is so upset she actually seriously considered a suggestion made by her son to gain access to the bank and stage a protest from within.
“We were going to knock the door down, take lots of food and tilly lamps and sit out the protest. But I do not want to resort to that,” she said.
Wildland chief executive Tim Kirkwood said: “We have been working throughout the pandemic with the local community development trust and other stakeholders to find a use for the old bank building that will invest in the building’s future and make a positive, sustainable contribution to local needs.
“We look forward to continuing to engage with them on this and other priorities, including social care provision and the delivery of affordable housing.”
