One of Perth’s largest sites primed for possible development is still lying empty after six years.
Once the location of the famous Perth Mart, the sprawling building on Crieff Road has been the subject of various proposals since it closed in July 2009.
A chequered timeline since includes supermarket chain Sainsbury’s pulling the plug on a planned £41 million store in August 2014, only to be followed by land owners Perth City West LLP going into administration that October.
FRP Advisory was then appointed administrators and had initially hoped to attract a developer, claiming there had been interest from several interested parties.
An FRP spokesman confirmed the site is still empty, although they hope to put it back on the market soon.
“Previous marketing of the site failed to generate an offer acceptable to the lender in the required timescale,” he said. “We will be bringing the land to the market again once it is considered appropriate to do so.
“This land, at East Huntingtower, Perth, is owned by Perth City West LLP, a limited liability partnership, which is in administration.”
Council leader Ian Miller described the empty building as a “prime site” in Perth, saying: “The site in Crieff Road has not been designated for commercial development. However, it would be ideal for business of any sort.”
It will bring an end to an uncertain period for the site if a developer is found.
After the Perth Mart shut in July 2009 Sainsbury’s announced its plans for a £41m store a month later, claiming it would bring around 450 jobs.
They lodged their proposals in 2011 and planning consent was granted by Perth and Kinross Council in May 2012.
However, it then stated Sainsbury’s could begin work on the site ahead of vital work on the surrounding roads infrastructure (A9/A85).
This led to Tesco appealing against this decision with the Court of Session, which stalled work on the site.
Sainsbury’s then shocked residents when it announced it was pulling the plug on the plans in August 2014, citing the unsuccessful legal move as one of the reasons for the decision.