After three years in administration, Auchlochan Garden Village in Lesmahagow, South Lanarkshire, has been acquired by property and care home operator The Argyll Group.
The retirement village, which is home to 245 residents and employs 97 staff, was previously operated by the charity MHA Auchlochan and entered administration in 2023.
The Argyll Group, which has more than 30 years’ experience within the property and care sector, previously purchased nearby Bankhouse Care Home in 2024, also formerly owned by MHA Auchlochan.
Auchlochan Garden Village is a 50-acre site comprising 235 apartments and cottages and a 78-bed care home, offering residents different options based on their preferences and needs.
Almost 50% of the 235 properties on the estate are privately owned, while The Argyll Group will now own the other half to lease or sell. 50% of the properties now owned by The Argyll Group are currently occupied with lease agreements.
Under the new ownership, investment plans will focus on improvements to onsite amenities including the bistro restaurant, walled garden and greenhouses, event spaces, communal areas and beauty and wellness salons, further enhancing quality of life and strengthening the sense of community across the estate.
The estate has been operated by Blair Milne, James Fennessey and Robert Young, partners with accountancy firm Azets, following their appointment as joint administrators of MHA Auchlochan in 2023. The administration team have been working closely with The Argyll Group since 2024 on the sale of Bankhouse Care Home followed by the sale of Auchlochan Garden Village and Lower Johnshill Care Home.
The Argyll Group is a family business that owns and operates two established care homes: the 51-bed Bankhouse Care Home in Lesmahagow and the 50-bed Avonhaugh Nursing Home in Stonehouse.
The group is led by William McDonald and son Sam McDonald. Mr McDonald snr, said: “Auchlochan Garden Village has been an incredibly important part of the local community for many years, and we are proud to secure its future for residents, families and staff.”
Blair Milne, joint administrator and head of restructuring and insolvency in Scotland with Azets, said: “A significant effort has been made throughout the administration period to restructure governance of the Village and to prepare the asset for sale.
“That process has required support from many parties, most notably Methodist Homes Association (the previous operator and majority creditor), the dedicated staff at Auchlochan and Lower Johnshill and of course the resident community and their families.
“A tremendous amount of work has necessarily gone into protecting the future of the Village over the last three years and the administrators are delighted to have achieved a successful outcome.”
#owner #secures #Auchlochan #Garden #Village #future #Daily #Business