Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is challenging plans to demolish the former Crieff Hotel in the town’s East High Street.
Creative Crieff submitted an application to Perth and Kinross Council to take down the building and create a ‘stalled space’ as part of the first phase of a bid to provide the community with a multi-screen cinema complex.
And, last year members of Perth and Kinross Council’s strategic policy and resources committee voted to allocate funding from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme to the tune of £200,000 for the charity’s efforts to establish an arts hub at the site.
However, HES believes the buildings proposed for demolition make a positive contribution to the character of Crieff.
A letter from the public body states: “The demolition of the existing buildings and their replacement with the proposed development would fail to preserve the character of Crieff Conservation Area.”
HES has provided a report on the history of the buildings on the site and why they should be retained, and is calling for more work to be done to demonstrate that their structural condition rules out their retention at reasonable cost, or that a variety of other uses have been considered for the building and were found to be unviable.
It further states: “When considering the demolition of unlisted buildings in conservation areas, the assessment should be based on the building’s contribution to the wider area rather than its importance to itself in the manner of a listed building.
“In exercising their planning functions, planning authorities are directed by the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 to pay special attention to the preservation or enhancement of the character and appearance of conservation areas.”
HES is seeking more information in support of the principle of demolition, and is discouraging the idea that “the degraded appearance of a traditional building which has not been maintained might contribute to an argument in favour of demolition where viable schemes for renovation and reuse might be possible.”
Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust has also submitted a comment.
It recommends that “the building is re-purposed if at all feasible” but states that, if consent is granted, a detailed historic building survey should be undertaken.
Strathearn SNP ward councillor Stewart Donaldson described plans to demolish the former Crieff Hotel as “a no-brainer.”
He said: “I am somewhat puzzled, even concerned, about this development [the HES letter] in relation to the Crieff Hotel, and what Creative Crieff is looking to do.
“I do hope that HES does not put any major obstacles in the way. Its remit is to protect and restore historic buildings amongst other things. That is an objective I share.
“However, a common-sense approach has to be applied. For instance HES initially objected to the demolition of the Strathearn Hotel. Eventually that objection was withdrawn when it was clear that nothing could be done to save and restore the old George Hotel. That building had become a serious fire and safety risk.
“There was no other option than to demolish, and thank goodness it has gone.
“The Crieff Hotel may not be in as bad a state of disrepair, although there is extensive internal damage, but equally it is not a historic building in the same way that the Strathearn Hotel could have been viewed.
“It may be in a conservation area, but it is not a listed building. Indeed, much of what is there is quite modern. What Creative Crieff is proposing will in fact enhance the environment, as well as providing immense wider community benefits.
“It really is a no-brainer. The project is good to go, and demolition could happen very soon. I understand that Creative Crieff has provided HES with the required information.
“I very much hope that HES will now proceed with pace to remove any uncertainties as soon as possible.”
