Council defers Perth City Hall decision

The hall has sat empty since the city's new concert hall opened 10 years ago

The future of Perth City Hall remains uncertain, after councillors deferred a decision on what should happen to it.

The B-listed building had been facing demolition if no viable alternative use could be found.

Councillors considered two bids, to redevelop the hall as a luxury hotel or as a food market and community hub.

Experts brought in by the council recommended backing the market plan, but members decided to put off their decision until October.

Perth and Kinross Council officials have been asked "to engage further with Historic Scotland and other relevant agencies to address and highlight our concerns and to identify a realistic way forward to ensure that any decision that we take has the best possible impact on the economy and environment of the city."

The debate over the Edwardian building, which dates back to 1911, has been ongoing since it closed 10 years ago due to a modern new concert hall opening in the city.

The local authority wanted to demolish it in favour of a new city square, but found Historic Scotland in opposition to the plan.

Councillors agreed last year to publicly market a 125-year lease for the hall to finally settle whether there was a realistic alterative use for the building, in the hope Historic Scotland's objection would be withdrawn if none could be found.

Rival bids

The hotel proposal, from the Seventy Group, was previously backed by city planners, but drew criticism from independent property firm Jones Laing LaSalle (JLL) for only offering £1 a year in rent.

The Seventy Group also only outlined 65% of the required £4.8m redevelopment funding, a "significant weakness" in the eyes of JLL, which penned a lengthy report for councillors to consider.

The Perth City Market Place Ltd bid had been rejected by experts at an earlier draft stage, but won backing from JLL with a detailed new proposal which included £20,000 a year in rent.