‘Eyesore’s now revitalised’

City renovations progressing well

Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust’s annual report has just been published, detailing a hectic year for the organisation.

The trust’s wide range of responsibilities is reflected in the publication.

And it also highlights key renovation and restoration projects which have benefited from Perth City Heritage Fund grant support.

The fund has been administered by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust for the past four years.

Backed by the Scottish Government through Historic Environment Scotland it is designed to foster economic regeneration by assisting owners of historic buildings within the Perth Centre and Perth Kinnoull conservation areas with the costs of high quality repairs using traditional material - targeting empty, underused or dilapidated buildings.

In the heritage trust’s report, chairman Sue Hendry notes: “The Perth City Heritage Fund is progressing well and we were delighted to see work on the Cunningham Graham Close – said to be the oldest inhabited tenement in the city – and George Street completed, and the improvement it brought to that area of our city.

“We were also pleased to see work on the John Buchan House in York Place completed. It had been empty for decades and had become a significant eyesore on one of the major routes into the city centre. It had featured on the Buildings at Risk Register but has now been converted into offices.”

In the period under review, nine grants totalling more than £250,000 were approved.

But reflecting on a busy year for the heritage trust, which has wide-ranging responsibilities, Mrs Hendry also highlighted various Tay Landscape Partnership projects which included installing nest boxes for birdlife and bats, along with bee hives.

The trust also welcomed the phased excavation of the Moredun hill fort.

She added: “Work is being done on interpretation boards for various locations, new trees and hedgerows are being planted, archaeological and wildlife surveys are being undertaken and many other projects are on the go.”

Across Perth and Kinross, a Historic Building Grant Scheme has offered support to seven projects, including roof repairs at Tibbermore Church, repairs to a lead fleche at St Serf’s Episcopal Church in Comrie and a contribution to shop front repairs at 167 High Street in Kinross.

Before closing to new applicants, it had supported the conservation of over 328 significant historic buildings in the county.

Mrs Hendry highlighted the work of staff, volunteer work and in-kind support from contractors.

Successful events included P and K Archaeology Month, Doors Open Day, ‘The Mystery of Pre-History’ street festival, the Errol ‘Clayfest’, an Orchard Fruit Festival and the Glenshee Archaeology Project.

Nine grants totalling more than £250,000 were approved