Plans to transform Kinross Town Hall after “years of neglect” were approved.
Perth and Kinross Council’s development management committee agreed to pass an application for a change of use for the hall to be used as shops and offices, along with a new block of eight flats to be built at the rear of the building.
Council members were satisfied that some concerns had been addressed after a previous proposal failed to win approval towards the end of last year.
Kinross Town Hall, on the High Street, has a series of buildings that are within the Kinross Conservation Area.
It contains a key group of protected buildings the scheduled monument clock tower (B-listed), the Old Post Office (B-listed), the town hall (B-listed) and the fountain (C-listed).
The town hall buildings have lain vacant for a long period of time and Perth and Kinross Council declared the town hall and library surplus to requirements in 2002.
Perth and Kinross Council marketed the buildings over the last 10 years, but their condition deteriorated during this time and they are listed in the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland.
A similar proposal for retail, offices and new flats was rejected by the committee in October as it failed to provide a sympathetic scheme for the restoration and reuse of the listed buildings and an enhancement scheme for the public space in front of the buildings.
The committee heard from Malcolm Smith, a planning agent appearing on behalf of the developers, who said the plan would regenerate Kinross Town Hall “after years of neglect”.
“A former billiard hall will be demolished and the other work will include repairing gutters, windows and doors,” he said.
“If approved, work will start on the building the same time as the development of the eight apartments. It will produce new homes and will provide economic benefits to the area.”
Councillor Alan Livingstone told the committee he has family in Kinross and spends part of his working time there. He said he felt the plan was much needed.
“I have spent some time there and things are fine until you get to the town centre this will be a big improvement,” he said.
The committee also approved a modified plan to allow the sale of a revised range of goods at St Catherine’s Retail Park, Perth.
The modifications, submitted by St Catherine’s Perth (Moorgath Properties), relate to the size of units in a move aimed at regenerating the retail park, which was built in the 1980s.
The committee discussed a report compiled by Nick Brian, Perth and Kinross Council’s development quality manager.
In it, he said that the development would assist in the “much-needed” regeneration of the site, which he described as “outdated”.
Councillor John Kellas said there had been problems that had been resolved and added that this was a “positive” move by the council to approve the plans.