THE controversy over ownership of a residential centre seems set to end as plans for community ownership have won £750,000 of backing.

The Scottish Land Fund is making the award to the South Cowal Community Development Company, which was formed in 2010 in an earlier attempt to buy Castle Toward in the south of the Cowal Peninsula.

It will go towards purchasing the 143 acre estate, preserving the buildings and creating jobs.

The Grade B Listed baronial mansion house will be leased and developed by a national outdoor education company, yet to be named. It was owned by the City of Glasgow for decades for the benefit of its children.

In 1996, ownership passed to Argyll and Bute and it was threatened with closure. A rescue operation was mounted and a company, Actual Reality, was formed, which kept the castle in use as a renowned residential centre for outdoor education and music and art courses.

But the council's stewardship of the building, its closure and attempts to sell it, attracted criticism.

South Cowal Community Development Company chairman Alan Stewart, said: "The community has been behind the buyout 100 per cent over the past six months. This funding means we can proceed in our negotiations to purchase the estate for the community. "

Other Scottish Land Fund awards announced today include Kettins Parish Hall, £25,428 to buy Lindsay Park in Kettins, near Blairgowrie, Perthshire; Kirkton Woodland and Heritage Group, £149,500 to purchase Kirkton Woodlands at Lochcarron, in Wester Ross; Arran Community Land Initiative, £181,500, to buy land near Whiting Bay.