A Perth councillor is asking for patience from neighbouring businesses and residents as plans take shape to turn a “dilapidated” listed building into an eatery.
Peter Barrett, who is one of the representatives for the Perth City ward, told The Courier he feels proposals by Khushi’s of Edinburgh for the transformation of St Paul’s Church in the High Street into a restaurant will be worth the wait.
Designed in 1799 and built in 1807, the B-listed building has fallen into disuse in recent years. However, Perth and Kinross Council granted planning consent last year for a change of use from church to restaurant with ancillary uses.
Khushi’s have resubmitted an application for listed building consent, which covers the restoration and alterations to the historic, listed fabric of the former church.
Some businesses and traders in the vicinity of the building have voiced their anger at the state of the building and the time it is taking to redevelop it.
“I can understand local anger at the deterioration and dereliction of St Paul’s, but I hope that they can be patient for a short while more while the planning consent process comes to a conclusion,” said Mr Barrett.
“The conversion and refurbishment of St Paul’s is a major undertaking which will make a very significant contribution to the regeneration of our city centre.“Anyone who has experience of maintaining any of Perth’s ecclesiastic buildings knows how much time and money they consume.
“Repairing, renovating and converting the B-listed building properly and sensitively will be a highly complex, intricate and very expensive process.”
Mr Barrett said he feels the commitment of Khushi’s is something which Perth residents and visitors should “value highly”.
“It will reinstate and return to its former glory the 200-year-old church building, which will dramatically improve the west High Street streetscape,” he added.
“We need to get behind this scheme there is no alternative. It needs the city’s wholehearted support and not cold water poured on the prospect.
“I don’t want to see a hole in the ground here with a memorial plaque to St Paul’s.”
Hugh Crawford, an architect with Sir Frank Mears Associates Ltd, the firm which has drawn up the plans on behalf of Khushi’s, feels it is time to get away from negative comments about the project.
“It should be stressed that the building has reached its present state through decades of disuse it has had 30 years of dilapidation and could have been left to rack and ruin,” he said.
“Perth and Kinross Council has exercised the procedures within its power to keep the building under care and review.
“Khushi’s have had the courage and vision to take it on as a project, and the current scheme seeks to recover many years of disuse and neglect. Khushi’s have built up a good reputation for quality in their business and are sympathetic to the recovery of the features and qualities of historic buildings.”
Mr Crawford went on: “The main restoration contract will be preceded by a programme of enabling works such a clearing the building of tree growth from the stonework and wallhead. Listed building consent has been applied for and there will be a period of three months to carry out enabling works, which will centre on removing vegetation around the building.”