The former Perth home of author John Buchan is to be turned into offices.
Perth and Kinross Council has approved plans to convert 20 York Place, along with the adjoining property at number 18, from residential use to office space.
The permission was granted with a number of conditions namely, that builders do not deviate from the plans and that boiler flues to be installed in the house are black “in the interest of safeguarding the character of the listed building”.
Buchan House has been on the Buildings at Risk register since 2009 and it is hoped the work will restore it to its former glory.
A report by the council’s planning department stated there was little reason to reject the plan.
It said: “This report recommends approval of the application as the development is considered to comply with the relevant provisions of the development plan and there are no material considerations apparent which outweigh the development plan.”
The two buildings will be fitted out with 11 offices, which could be let as a whole or to two separate companies. The plans also include several kitchens, as well as storage.
The man behind the development, Alexander Laing, said that, now planning consent has been granted, he is keen to take the project forward.
He said: “I’m grateful to the council for granting the planning permission. We now hope to get on with the second stage.
“The building was acquired some time ago and it’s taken a long time to get the architect’s plans and processes in place.”
Councillor Peter Barrett welcomed the news.
He said: “I am delighted that at long last these eyesore buildings, which have been a blot on Perth’s landscape for over 10 years, are to be renovated. The action is long overdue.
“It also means that the buildings and their occupants will generate revenue to the council rather than being exempt from council tax due to the state of disrepair into which they had been allowed to fall.”
The author of a number of classic novels was born at 20 York Place, the first child of church minister John Buchan and his wife, Helen.
He grew up in Kirkcaldy and was educated in Glasgow. In 1915 he published his most famous work, spy thriller the Thirty-Nine Steps.