Plan to list main stand at Tynecastle could hinder sale

MARTIN HANNAN

HEARTS face a devastating blow in their bid to sell Tynecastle Park. Historic Scotland confirmed last night they are considering making the main stand a listed building which may effectively stop it being demolished.

The national agency with responsibility for the preservation of notable buildings was alerted to the possibility of the stand being demolished by a Hearts fan aggrieved at the club’s plans to sell the ground. Under the plans by chief executive Chris Robinson, Hearts would move to Murrayfield and Tynecastle would be flattened to make way for a multi-million pound housing development, with the proceeds of the sale clearing the club’s £17.6m debt.

"I can confirm that the situation at Tynecastle has been brought to our attention by a member of the public," said a spokesperson for Historic Scotland last night. "We are required by legislation to consider any such request that a building be listed.

"In view of the circumstances, we are prioritising this particular case, but we can’t say how long this will take."

Scotland on Sunday understands that inspectors from Historic Scotland have already visited Tynecastle for external observations. Built between 1914 and 1919, the main stand, with its capacity of nearly 5,000, is one of the last remaining examples of a stand designed by Archibald Leitch, and the only major work by the builder in the east of Scotland.

Leitch was unquestionably the greatest Scottish designer of sports stadia, and enjoys world renown. His works included the original Celtic Park, Old Trafford, Hampden, Tottenham Hotspur’s White Hart Lane, Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge and Ibrox Park.

The latter’s frontage on Edmiston Drive, which is generally reckoned to be Leitch’s masterpiece, is already a B Listed building and has been preserved during the various redevelopments of the Rangers’ stadium.

According to experts, the most probable ranking of Tynecastle’s stand would be as a Category B building "of regional or more than local importance", or as a "major example of some particular period, style or building type", as defined by Historic Scotland.

Other football clubs in the UK have been forced to alter their plans to accommodate the preservation of a Leitch building - the long delays affecting the redevelopment of Fulham’s Craven Cottage ground have been partially caused by the need to preserve Leitch’s Stevenage Road stand.

But due to the failure of conservation bodies to list his buildings, many of the stadia mentioned above and other Leitch works at Southampton, Blackburn, Sunderland and Villa Park in Birmingham have all been demolished, which makes the case for retaining Tynecastle even stronger.

The Scottish Executive’s policy on demolition or alteration of listed buildings is clear: "With respect to the demolition (meaning total or substantial destruction) of listed buildings, it is government policy that no such building should be lost to our environment unless it is demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that every effort has been exerted by all concerned to find practical ways of keeping them.

"In all cases of demolition, prior consideration should be given to the scope for recycling buildings which have clear historic or architectural significance."

Opponents of the move to Murrayfield, such as property magnate Robert McGrail, were stunned to learn of the latest development in the ongoing troubles afflicting the Gorgie club.

McGrail said last night that he could understand why a fan would be driven to such a move in order to stymie the board’s plan to vacate Tynecastle, but he admitted that listing the building could seriously affect his plans and those of his brother, Peter, for redevelopment of the stadium.

"We will have to carefully study the implications of this matter before making any comment," said McGrail.

"It is very bad news for Chris Robinson’s plans but it also has ramifications for everybody involved in Hearts."

A statement from Hearts last night indicated that the possibility of the main stand becoming a listed building had come as a surprise to the board, too.

"The club has no confirmation from Historic Scotland regarding any possibility of listing the main stand at Tynecastle," said Hearts.

"The club would only comment should any such listing be a reality rather than speculation."  

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