Historic Atmosphere Scotland (HES) is difficult plans to demolish the previous Crieff Resort within the city’s East Excessive Road.
Inventive Crieff submitted an software to Perth and Kinross Council to take down the constructing and create a ‘stalled house’ as a part of the primary part of a bid to supply the neighborhood with a multi-screen cinema complicated.
And, final yr members of Perth and Kinross Council’s strategic coverage and assets committee voted to allocate funding from the Scottish Authorities’s Place Based mostly Funding Programme to the tune of £200,000 for the charity’s efforts to determine an arts hub on the web site.
Nonetheless, HES believes the buildings proposed for demolition make a constructive contribution to the character of Crieff.
A letter from the general public physique states: “The demolition of the present buildings and their substitute with the proposed improvement would fail to protect the character of Crieff Conservation Space.”
HES has offered a report on the historical past of the buildings on the location and why they need to be retained, and is looking for extra work to be achieved to display that their structural situation guidelines out their retention at cheap price, or that quite a lot of different makes use of have been thought of for the constructing and had been discovered to be unviable.
It additional states: “When contemplating the demolition of unlisted buildings in conservation areas, the evaluation must be based mostly on the constructing’s contribution to the broader space slightly than its significance to itself within the method of a listed constructing.
“In exercising their planning capabilities, planning authorities are directed by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 to pay particular consideration to the preservation or enhancement of the character and look of conservation areas.”
HES is searching for extra data in assist of the precept of demolition, and is discouraging the concept “the degraded look of a conventional constructing which has not been maintained would possibly contribute to an argument in favour of demolition the place viable schemes for renovation and reuse could be potential.”
Perth and Kinross Heritage Belief has additionally submitted a remark.
It recommends that “the constructing is re-purposed if in any respect possible” however states that, if consent is granted, an in depth historic constructing survey must be undertaken.
Strathearn SNP ward councillor Stewart Donaldson described plans to demolish the previous Crieff Resort as “a no brainer.”
He stated: “I'm considerably puzzled, even involved, about this improvement [the HES letter] in relation to the Crieff Resort, and what Inventive Crieff is seeking to do.
“I do hope that HES doesn't put any main obstacles in the way in which. Its remit is to guard and restore historic buildings amongst different issues. That's an goal I share.
“Nonetheless, a commonsense strategy needs to be utilized. As an example HES initially objected to the demolition of the Strathearn Resort. Ultimately that objection was withdrawn when it was clear that nothing could possibly be achieved to avoid wasting and restore the outdated George Resort. That constructing had turn into a critical hearth and security danger.
“There was no different possibility than to demolish, and thank goodness it has gone.
“The Crieff Resort is probably not in as dangerous a state of disrepair, though there may be intensive inside harm, however equally it isn't a historic constructing in the identical method that the Strathearn Resort may have been seen.
“It might be in a conservation space, however it isn't a listed constructing. Certainly, a lot of what's there may be fairly trendy. What Inventive Crieff is proposing will actually improve the setting, in addition to offering immense wider neighborhood advantages.
“It truly is a no brainer. The mission is sweet to go, and demolition may occur very quickly. I perceive that Inventive Crieff has offered HES with the required data.
“I very a lot hope that HES will now proceed with tempo to take away any uncertainties as quickly as potential.”