Majority of island residents supported now-thwarted sale of castle to millionaire financier, Lorna Slater admits

Ms Slater, minister for biodiversity, said “lessons had been learned” from the collapsed deal to buy Kinloch Castle on Rum from a Scottish Government agency.

The now-thwarted sale of Kinloch Castle on Rum to millionaire financier Jeremy Hosking was supported by the majority of island residents, Government Minister Lorna Slater has said.

Ms Slater made the comments in a letter to residents following her recent trip to Rum to seek views on the future of the castle after the deal with Mr Hosking, rumoured to be worth £10 million, collapsed.

Ms Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, paused the sale after concerns were raised by the Isle of Rum Community Trust on certain aspects of the deal and whether the sale to a wealthy individual fitted with its aims.

Kinloch Castle on Rum has been boarded up for a decade and now risks falling into a state of disrepair.

Mr Hosking, who wanted to fully restore the deteriorating Grade- A listed building, which has been closed for decade, walked away from the sale amid growing frustration with the stalled process and claims the views of the trust did not reflect those of the wider island.

Ms Slater said “lessons had been learned” from the failed sale and that options for the castle, owned by NatureScot, were now “limited”.

Last night, Mr Hosking indicated he may still be interested in buying and restoring the castle.

Ms Slater, in her letter, said: “The majority of you indicated that the recent sale would have been a positive one and recognised that any investor would need to be a wealthy philanthropist who could see the castle restored to use in some form.

City financier Jeremy Hosking, who was on the verge of buying the castle from the Scottish Government, says there has to be accountability over the failed sale.(Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

“There have been lessons learned from the recent sale that did not proceed and I am therefore keen that we establish a secure position that supports the Rum community in moving ahead.

"You have also been clear that the community lacks both the desire and the capacity to take the Castle on through an asset transfer request. Therefore our options at this stage are limited."

Mr Hosking, who signed heads of agreement with the Scottish Government, claimed Ms Slater had been “naive” in her handling of the issue.

He added: “This has been percolating for 10 years and the ambush at the eleventh hour by the community trust has not been helpful. We have now lost two winters in trying to restore the castle.”

Scottish Green party co-leader and Minister for Biodiversity, Lorna Slater. PIC: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

A six-month government consultation will be carried out Rum, which has a population of 22, to find consensus on the castle’s future.

On whether he was still interested in the sale, Mr Hosking added: “I am sure when this process is complete I’ll take another look at it.”

Kate Forbes MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, who sat on a group set up to secure a future for the building, said the castle had the potential to boost the local economy.

"Lorna Slater took the opportunity to have an extended visit which enabled her to meet as many in the community as possible. For the Minister to subsequently say in an official letter that the majority of residents she met with approved of the recently proposed sale, is rather significant.

“In light of this new information, it is absolutely essential that we identify a way forward for the castle as quickly as possible - because allowing it to decline and degenerate is unacceptable.”

IRCT has been contacted for comment.