Perth’s historic streets and vennels are in line for a £1 million development to establish a “cultural corridor” in the city.
Compulsory purchase orders are likely to be used by the council to make the plans a reality.
In June last year, Perth and Kinross Council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee gave the green light for initial plans for Mill Street and the historic vennels, which will include additional car parking, improvements to Mill Street, as well as a makeover to Skinnergate and Guard Vennel.
Perth Theatre is currently going through a £13m revamp, with external changes being made to its side at Cutlog Vennel and also the Mill Street entrance.
The nearby site of the former Pullar Dyeworks recently made way for an 83-bedroom Premier Inn.
The £1m Mill Street scheme is a key part of the Perth City Plan to develop it as the “most desirable place in Scotland in which to live, work, visit and invest” and is geared to promote the identification of the area around Mill Street as the city’s cultural quarter.
As part of this plan, the council has deemed it necessary to buy pieces of privately-owned land and property in and around Mill Street to bring the whole area up to a standard which “properly” reflects the setting of Perth Concert Hall and the future redeveloped Perth Theatre.
Among the pieces of land which need to be acquired under the scheme is the former Banks of Perth building accessed by vennels from Mill Street and High Street.
The Banks site has been described as an “eyesore” and in poor condition in a report on the scheme, which will be discussed by a meeting of the council on Wednesday.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said last night: “This is one of a number of privately owned areas of land on the south side of Mill Street which fall within the extent of the scheme.
“These areas are generally not well maintained and if they were not acquired by the council would prove a barrier to delivering the vision for Mill Street as a cultural centre.
“Negotiations with the affected landowners and tenants are ongoing but the compulsory purchase order proceedings are being raised concurrently so that they can be put into place if negotiations can’t reach a fair conclusion.”
Council regeneration projects team leader Alan Graham said the vision was to create a “cultural corridor” from the Perth Concert Hall at one end of the street with Perth Theatre at the other.
Soft landscaping, new lighting and even projections on to the side of existing buildings are being considered in the plans which could see markets set up and areas for outdoor eating and drinking.
Council leader Ian Miller said: “At the moment Mill Street is very much the ‘trades entrance’ to the High Street, still set out as a location for bins and delivery vehicles rather than a feature destination in its own right.
“Beginning the compulsory purchase order process now demonstrates the council’s commitment to delivering on our exciting plans to enhance Mill Street and make the whole area live up to the potential shown in Perth Concert Hall and the Horsecross Plaza and Perth’s newest hotel.
“While I hope that it will be possible to purchase all the relevant areas of ground by negotiation, having the compulsory purchase order process ready to put in place will prevent frustrating delays to deliver this project for the benefit of all of Perth city centre.”