Despite overwhelming local opposition, councillors will next week be urged to consign the former Kinross High School building to the scrapheap.
More than 100 objections have been submitted to Perth and Kinross Council in the wake of plans to level the site, which are now being recommended for approval.
Developer Persimmon Homes could then be granted permission to create 102 new homes in the heart of the town’s conservation area.
It is understood that the local authority is in a position to make an estimated £3.5 million from the sale of the site.
Opponents of the plan include Kinross Community Council, the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and Kinross-shire Civic Trust.
They believe the site is being overdeveloped and question the modern suburban housing estate being proposed and its impact upon the surrounding area.
Many of the opponents have also called for the retention of the existing school building which, though not listed, has been assessed as of exceptional value.
Persimmon Homes has told the council that converting the original part of the school into housing would see it lose almost £250,000 and planners have accepted that keeping the building is not “financially viable”.
Historic Scotland is also among the objectors, and it rejects that suggestion, however.
The heritage body also describes the building as an “integral part” of the Kinross Conservation Area’s social and architectural history.
A number of the objectors have signalled their intention to address members of the council’s development management committee at a meeting on Wednesday.
Others are understood to be seeking urgent meetings with senior council officials in a bid to have the issue deferred.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith has even been moved to ask the Scottish Government to call in the proposals, given concerns over the council’s vested interest in the outcome.
Concerns over the density of housing with fears that too many houses are being crammed into the site in a bid to secure maximum value for the council and the developer appear to be borne out by the report planners will take to the committee.
It acknowledges that the private ground afforded to around two-thirds of the properties would be “compromised” by the small size of the plots.
In fact, a condition of planning will stipulate that future occupiers will not be able to develop their properties any further, with house extensions, outbuildings, raised decking and patios and even sheds and fences to be prohibited.
Nonetheless, planners believe the density of housing is suitable for the location, given the proximity of transport, shops and schooling, and have backed their styling, albeit with a few tweaks.
Development quality manager Nick Brian goes on to state, perhaps controversially: “It is considered questionable as to whether the original school building is actually important enough to be worthy of retention.”
He also questioned the suggestion that the withdrawal of parking many locals use the school grounds would have an impact on the town, remarking that a study had found local car parks were rarely at capacity and that parking was therefore a “perceived”, rather than an actual, issue.
Mr Brian added: “While it is unfortunate that the original school building is proposed to be demolished, this element only forms a small part of the site.
“When looking at the bigger picture, the proposed replacement development will significantly improve this brownfield site and, overall, will have a positive impact on both Kinross and the conservation area.”
The Kinross High School site was used a secondary school from 1906 until the new community campus opened in autumn 2009.