The future of a defunct Perth sports centre has been thrown into doubt after ambitious plans to turn it into a Grand Designs-style family home were rejected by council officers.
Developers have now confirmed that the former complex at Pitheavlis is unlikely to be reused for leisure, despite having its own gym hall, swimming pool and squash courts.
A major campaign was launched in 2008 when the facility was forced to close its doors.
The centre had been run by insurance firm Norwich Union for staff at its neighbouring office block, which is now operated by Aviva.
A Norwich Union spokesman said the decision to shut the centre was taken after it emerged only a small percentage of the workforce had used it.
Now the centre’s owner, Aberdeen firm Sonder PFKR, has had its application to transform the building into a private home rejected.
The plan involved creating seven bedrooms, a cinema and a sun room. The leisure centre’s remaining sports facilities, including a 25m pool and outdoor putting green, would also be retained.
In a letter to the local authority, architects stressed that the building has been vacant for five years.
“In that period, numerous attempts to lease this property as a leisure facility have proven to be unsuccessful,” said Aberdeen architect Neil Rothnie.
He confirmed that no one had been employed at the premises since 2009, adding: “We have demonstrated that this site or land has no value as employment land and that it would be unreasonable that it is retained as such.”
The local authority, however, maintained that plans to convert the building into a house went against policy.
A spokesman said the site was zoned for employment land as part of the council’s latest local development plan.
He added: “The proposal for change of use to a dwellinghouse is not considered to be an appropriate use of employment land,” he said.
No one from Mr Rothnie’s firm was available to comment.