Forfar church faces £300k repair bill

PLANNING: Angus Council rejects bid to demolish St Margaret’s

Angus church leaders face a £300,000 bill to repair a decaying place of worship after a demolition plan was rejected by the council.

A scheme to replace St Margaret’s Church in Forfar with a community church has fallen foul of planning laws.

Decay in the near-century-and-a-half-old building was first noticed 35 years ago and the kirk session decided it would be better to raze and replace it.

However, the West High Street building sits in a protected area of the town.

In a report to councillors, planning officials said: “There are relatively few surviving buildings of this scale and quality remaining in Forfar conservation area and town centre.

“The demolition of St Margaret’s Church would not protect or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area and would erode and undermine its character.”

Church officials are considering their next move.

Church leaders face a six-figure bill to repair a crumbling 137-year-old building after plans to demolish it were rejected by officials.

Earlier this year, St Margaret’s Church in Forfar submitted plans to replace the building with a single-storey community church, which would include a café, multipurpose hall, kitchen, vestry, oratory and office.

However, Angus Council decided the church’s demolition would have had a “significant detrimental impact” on the character and appearance of Forfar conservation area.

It leaves the church with an estimated £300,000 repair bill – not including any costs for modernisation.

Officials from St Margaret’s Church said they were not yet in a position to comment on their plans.

Rejecting the application, Angus Council officials said: “The building makes a significant and positive

“The demolition would not protect or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area and would erode and undermine its character

contribution to the street scene and is of some local historic and cultural significance.

“There are relatively few surviving buildings of this scale and quality remaining in the Forfar conservation area and town centre. The building makes a positive contribution to the conservation area and the presumption should be to retain it.

“The demolition would not protect or enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area and would erode and undermine its character.”

Decay in the church building was first noticed 35 years ago, with architects brought in to look at solutions in 1996.

Church officials decided the best option was to demolish the church and create a new “21st Century” place of worship.

Historic Environment Scotland objected to a separate application for conservation area consent, arguing “every effort” should be made to keep the church.

They did, however, make it clear they would consider supporting an alternative application if it was to retain its facade.

Though not a listed building, it was constructed in 1879 and sits prominently at the north side of West High Street.

Its most striking features are an imposing Gothic facade.

jkeith@thecourier.co.uk

The demolition of St Margaret’s Church in Forfar has been refused permission.