New life looks set to be breathed into an imposing listed building in Perth which is lying vacant.
An application has been lodged for change of use and alterations for the former nurses’ home in Taymount Terrace and, if approved, would create 29 flats.
The site is located close to Perth Royal Infirmary and the three-storey building sits on an elevated plot.
A report to go before councillors on Wednesday describes the conversion as “sympathetic with little external change proposed” to the category C-listed neo-Georgian structure.
“The building, dating to 1921-32, was designed by James Millar, also the architect of the earlier original infirmary buildings of 1911-14,” says Nick Brian, the council’s development quality manager.
“The nurses’ home is a substantial and imposing building, set within attractive gardens bounded by mature conifers.
“The listing includes the semi-circular coped brick boundary walls and the brick piers and iron gates to Taymount Terrace.
“Previously providing accommodation for 64 nurses, the building has been vacant for a number of years and was sold by the NHS in 2014.”
The proposal, which will be considered by the development management committee, is to convert the building into 12 one-bedroom flats, 16 two-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom flat.
The majority of the surrounding garden ground is to be retained as communal amenity space with 37 parking spaces. Small private gardens are proposed for three of the ground floor units.
A total of seven letters of objection have been received raising concerns about the loss of mature trees, the potential effect on wildlife, a loss of privacy and over-intensive development.
Mr Brian says that a new-build element of the project was removed during the pre-application stage due to the potential detrimental impact on the listed building.
He said that a tree survey noted that four of the mature conifers on the site are dead or dying and it is proposed to remove them and carry out replanting.
The recommendation before the committee is to approve the application.