A crumbling mansion owned by the government of Iran sits abandoned in one of Greater Manchester's most exclusive areas, Bowdon. The derelict building, known as Brackendene, was once a grand site with greenhouses, outbuildings and a swimming pool, but now has a hole for a roof and lies forgotten behind overgrown woodland and security fences.
The property was bought by Iran in the 1970s and was beautifully maintained, with the consul-general living there at one stage. However, after Iran's Islamic revolution, the building began to be left empty, and it was finally abandoned in the 2000s. Thieves have stripped it of anything valuable, and it has been vandalised, used as an illegal dumping site and set on fire at least three times. A major arson attack in 2011 caused the top floors to collapse into the basement.
Trafford Council considers the building to be in a dangerous state, but demolishing it has proved impossible because it is diplomatic land. The council cannot access the site or obtain a compulsory purchase order as it would for other properties. Negotiations with Iran have been slow, hampered by global events such as tensions over Iran's nuclear programme, which led to the closure of embassies in 2011.
There may be a glimmer of hope following the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, which Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said would open a 'new chapter' in Iran's relations with the world. However, the future of Brackendene remains uncertain, with the council continuing to pursue a diplomatic resolution while keeping the site secure.
