Plans to turn a landmark Bridge of Allan hotel into school boarding accommodation have been scrapped due to increased costs.
The Royal Hotel was set to be transformed by Fairview International School, with proposals to create a community hub and additional boarding and learning facilities for pupils.
But this week the school announced it would not be going ahead with the project after all.
Fairview said the scheme had become unsustainable due to increases in building labour costs and materials – as well as the hike in energy prices.
The former hotel building in Henderson Street, the town’s main thoroughfare, dates from the 1840s and sits within the Conservation Area. It has now been put back on the market.
Fairview headteacher David Hicks said: “We are saddened that we are not able to create the community hub that we originally planned at the site of the Royal.
“We took significant steps in advance of purchasing the building to ensure the viability of the project, but unfortunately due to new and emerging factors we are no longer able to complete the development.
“Our boarding programme will still go ahead and we are currently developing alternative plans to deliver our enhanced boarding facility. We remain committed to playing a strong role in the Bridge of Allan community.”
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Mr Hicks added the school is also freezing its fees for two years “as a result of the ongoing pressures and uncertainty facing everyone during the cost of living crisis” to bring “some certainty in uncertain times.”
Fairview bought the Royal Hotel in June 2021 and change of use plans to turn the former hotel into school boarding accommodation were approved earlier this year, despite council planners admitting it could mean a “loss of vitality” in the area.
In 2020 the previous owners said it had been unprofitable as a hotel for some time despite substantial refurbishment and the coronavirus pandemic had worsened things to such an extent that they had “no intention of reopening”.
Plans by B of A Property Ltd to convert the hotel into 12 flats and build 14 townhouses in the grounds were approved the same year, but proved controversial. Bridge of Allan Community Council had been among the objectors and stressed the importance of the hotel business to the town’s economy.
Stirling Council Provost and Dunblane and Bridge of Allan councillor Douglas Dodds said this week: “Town residents were looking forward to the hotel being redesigned and brought back to some sort of established building. Hopefully it will be bought and renovated to fit into the town.”
