ALL-NEW CITY HALL ON TRACK FOR 2021 OPENING
Summer date for landmark
Perth and Kinross Council has finally set a date for when it expects to reopen the long dormant City Hall as a brand new multimillion pound cultural attraction, the PA can reveal.
A report due to go before the next meeting of the full council tomorrow, (Wednesday, February 28), says Perth City Hall could be fully redeveloped as a major new museum and reopened to the public by the summer of 2021 if all goes according to the local authority’s latest plan for the B-listed building.
It has already selected the Netherlands-based architect Mecanoo to take forward the transformative £20m project following an international design competition and formally requested the Scottish Government approve lending it the Stone of Destiny to act as the newlyimagined hall’s centrepiece.
Officials imagine the century-old structure will showcase the story of Perth’s ancient roots and its role in the birth of the Scottish nation when it is finally reopened and consider the Stone of Destiny, which is currently kept in Edinburgh Castle, as being “central” to that story, according to
tomorrow’s report.
Providing councillors an update on progress with the project the document goes on:“The delivery programme for City Hall is on track. Detailed design workshops are underway to develop the architectural design for City Hall and the exhibition designs.
“The designs were developed ... to Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stage 1 (outline concept design) by December 2017 and [have been] submitted to the Programme Board. The next design milestone is May 2018 when the designs must be developed to HubCo Stage 1. This work is also on track.”
Construction is expected to start in April 2019 and is expected to be complete by January City Hall Perth
2021.
The report further reveals Scottish Government officials visited the city last month to see how the Stone of Destiny would fit in with the council’s proposals for the hall and that the local authority has also asked the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to consider part funding the project.
It says:“An HLF Stage 1 application for £4.9 million towards City Hall was submitted on December 7, 2017. This is now being assessed and we will be notified on Stage 1 in March 2018. A Stage 2 application will be required by August 31, 2018. Work is underway on this.
“Dialogue continues via Scottish Government Protocol and Honours Unit on the council’s formal request for the Stone of Destiny to come to Perth.
“Scottish Government officials visited Perth in January to this end to view the City Hall site and the emerging designs. Further information will be provided to Scottish Government in mid-March 2018.”