| The 130-year-old building is one of the city centre’s most instantly recognisable buildings, but it now faces an uncertain future as the bank places it on the open market.
A spokesman for the Clydesdale confirmed the building would be going up for sale, although he stated there were no bidders waiting in the wings.
It is believed the building’s prime city centre location and size could attract national pub chains which have created franchises in former bank buildings in other Scottish cities.
The purpose-built building was designed by Glasgow architect William Spence in 1875 and bought from the Dundee police commissioners for the then substantial sum of £20,000.
It is one of the city centre’s most distinctive buildings, with a striking statue of a woman with a horn of plenty pouring out money.
The spokes-woman said they’d been left with no choice but to vacate the upstairs, downstairs banking hall to comply with the terms of last year’s Disability Discrimination Act. “This is a move with our customers’ best interests at heart. We are attempting to modernise the service for our customers in Dundee by getting more suitable customer-facing positions,” she added.
She said preparations were now well under way for the bank to move to the former site of Ottakar’s on the corner of City Square, empty since the bookstore moved to the former Arnott’s building in November.
Dundee City Council has granted permission for the transformation of the building from a retail to a financial outlet.
The bank will officially close the branch at 96 High Street on March 10 before opening for business at 7/8 High Street on March 13. |
