A report from Historic Environment Scotland - commissioned by Ministers – estimated that addressing the challenges to maintain the building and make it safe for public access could cost in excess of £13 million over 20 years.
Taking into account increasing pressure on public resources, the Scottish Government has therefore 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.
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The Cabinet Secretary for Culture Fiona Hyslop has written to the Archdiocese of Glasgow, offering them 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."
