An eyesore hotel could be levelled to make way for a new church hall.
The Waverley Hotel, in Perth, has been boarded up and abandoned for the last two years.
It was bought in 2010 by Stagecoach chairman Sir Brian Souter and was a homeless hostel for a short period before the doors and windows were boarded up.
It was widely thought that Sir Brian had purchased the rundown hotel because it was detracting from the nearby Church of the Nazarene, of which he has been a longstanding member.
Now he wants to raze the neglected York Place building and replace it with a modern church hall and adjacent flats.
The news will be a boon to locals, who have complained that the increasingly rundown site is becoming a health hazard.
Nearby residents say they have seen rats among the growing piles of rubbish at the back of the hotel, while it is also attracting increasing levels of anti-social behaviour.
Listed building consent has been applied for and documents with the application outline how the plan will transform the streetscape.
They say: “If these buildings were to be demolished, we have an opportunity to create a striking new building which respects the importance of this major access point in Perth, whilst also enhancing the character of the area.
“This setting needs a sympathetic response which, with appropriate high- quality design, will give dominance to the twin spires of the church, whilst also improving the visual aesthetic of the locale in general, which will benefit both visitors and residents of Perth.”
Backers of the plan also say that it will preserve the church in its current location because all its activities can take place on one site.
The planning statement declares: “The C-listed church, which is next to the proposed site, may be endangered if the church is forced to relocate to an alternative site in order to resource the social programme that it provides.
“We feel that the church is the more significant of the buildings in this part of the townscape and that the proposed demolition of the neighbouring property will enhance the setting and secure the future of the church.
“Successful planning consent will ensure the ongoing development of the church activities for the benefit of the community and congregation.
“It would secure the future of the actual church building and tidy up derelictionon one of the major access routes into Perth.”
The plans show a glass-fronted hall onYork Place and linked to the neighbouring church, which would be open to community use.
A terraced villa would be built alongside and eight flats would be created.
Listed period features including 1930s art deco fittings will be incorporated into the new project.
arichardson@thecourier.co.uk