Two heritage bodies are split over their views on a controversial plan submitted by businesswoman Ann Gloag to demolish a former Perth hotel.
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust have lodged an objection to the proposal to raze the Waverley Hotel to the ground, while Historic Environment Scotland have had a change of heart and state they no longer oppose the proposal.
Ms Gloag recently submitted a revised blueprint for the hotel, which if passed would see a multi-use hall and gym facility built on the York Place site, as well as creating a lunch club for “struggling families and the homeless.”
The ageing hotel has remained empty since it closed its doors in August 2011 when it was last used as a homeless refuge. Since then it has been subjected to vandalism and suffered an extensive fire in November last year, when it took eight fire appliances more than four hours to control a blaze that damaged the building’s roof.
Ms Gloag is a member of the Trinity Church of the Nazarene, which is adjacent to the former hotel, and the aim is for the church to run the new facilities.
However, Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) has submitted an official objection to the plan, describing the proposed new development as being “of poor quality.”
In a letter submitted to Perth and Kinross Council by Sara Carruthers, historic buildings development officer with PKHT, she reveals that the heritage watchdog were consulted on the plan “as neighbours,” and lists why the organisation oppose the radical plan.
“The former Waverley Hotel is a listed building and the application does not give any justification as to why it is no longer of historic importance,” she says in the letter.
“The proposed new development is of poor quality and has unfortunately taken its inspiration from adjacent supermarkets and late 20th century shopping arcades rather than the other notable 19th century buildings which contribute to the character of this part of the Perth Conservation Area.”
Her letter continues: “The increasingly poor condition of the building is a result of a lack of maintenance over many years and failure to secure the building in a wind and watertight condition after a fire last year — both of which are contrary to the statutory responsibilities of owners of listed buildings.”
And Ms Carruthers also states how PKHT would have reacted “positively” to an “appropriate” application concerning bringing the building back into use.
She explains: “The application alleges it is uneconomic to repair the building and asserts that no grant assistance is available to help defray the costs of bringing the building back into use. The Perth City Heritage Fund has been in existence since 2012 and was designed to assist owners to bring historic buildings such as the Waverley back into use.”
Ms Carruthers’ letter also claims the Waverley Hotel plan “adversely affects” the setting of the AK Bell Library in York Place.
Conversely, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) have stressed they do not object to the plan but they have asked the council to consider a host of “comments” when making their decision on the matter.
Simon Montgomery, senior heritage management officer with HES, said the body is “satisfied” that the issues raised by the plan are “not of national significance” and states HES do not object to it.
However, he advises a note of caution by adding: “HES’s view is that the scheme as submitted would result in a substantial loss to the historic environment. Our preference would remain for the existing listed buildings to be retained and re-used or incorporated into the proposed development, and we would encourage the council and the applicant to continue to explore alternatives to full demolition.”
