ONE of Scotland's most famous modern buildings, St Peter's Seminary in Cardross, will not be looked after by the state.
A new report from Historic Environment Scotland, commissioned by Ministers, has found that making the modernist ruin safe for public access could cost in excess of £13 million over 20 years.
The future of the former Seminary, a ruin in the Kilmahew woods, now appears to be bleak.
It appears that what is being described as "curated decay" is the future for the building, which was at the centre of arts company NVA's plans in recent times.
However, the report suggests this could cost £13m over the next 20 years.
The Scottish Gvoernment, whilst backing the idea of 'curated decay', has not pledged any funds to the idea.
READ MORE: St Peter's - a masterpiece with no future?
The Scottish Government has "accepted the recommendation from HES to decline a request from the Catholic Church, which owns the building, to take St Peter’s into state care" it said in a statement.
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop has written to the Archdiocese of Glasgow, "offering to facilitate a roundtable with any interested parties to discuss the report and what alternative solutions may be available."
Ms Hyslop said: "The Scottish Government has no choice but to accept the recommendations from Historic Environment Scotland not to take St Peters Seminary into state care, due to the risk and cost to the public purse it would entail to the detriment of other properties in care.
“We accept the report’s analysis that the only reasonable way forward for this site would be ‘curated decay’ and I plan to convene a meeting with all key partners to see if there is a way forward collectively to deliver what looks to be the only viable option for St Peters.”
The A-listed building in the Kilmahew woodland of Dunbartonshire was designed Scottish architects Isi Metzstein and Andy MacMillan.
READ MORE: The grim fate of Scotland's modernist masterpiece
For a decade the ground-breaking arts company NVA had appeared to have secured a new future for the lauded 1966 building as an arts venue and, in long term plans, cultural centre.
However, last year NVA, led by Angus Farquhar, has its long term funding from Creative Scotland cut in its controversial Regular Funding spending round, and the company closed.
Farquhar has been angered by the HES report.
He said: "Today Scotland has turned its back on the 20th Century.
"HES has advised the Scottish Ministers not to take St Peter’s Seminary into State Care, on the basis that the risks and costs are too high.
"It is the end for a long and popular campaign to save the building for the future....100 years from hence much of Scotland’s significant post-war modernist architecture will have been erased. Those responsible for the loss should be held to account and their decisions fully debated and challenged."
He added: "Part of our recent built heritage will be erased, how sad that as a nation we can champion countless ruined castles celebrating a history of blood-soaked barbarism and maintain numerous country houses documenting the lives of the rich and privileged in distant times.
'These state buildings offer little intellectual challenge.
"But when it comes to the complexities of sustaining the artefacts of recent modernist history of telling ‘our story’, a subjective distaste for modernism comes into play. It is simply not good enough for modern outlooking nation who wish to still see themselves in the heart of Europe."
NVA staged the Hinterland project in the ruins in 2016, and made a film with acclaimed artist Rachel Maclean, but its long term £11m project to transform the "stabilised ruins" into a cultural centre and performance space now seems to have been the last chance for the building to be used as in a productive fashion.
In all, NVA spent £2.3m on the building, and organised a series of works, including removing hazardous waste and asbestos, the restoration of 80 vaults, improving paths, clearing away Rhododendron plants as well as other woodland management in the 104 acre site.
The Seminary is A-listed, and the World Monument Fund has it scheduled as one of the world's most endangered cultural landmarks.
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