Redevelopment of former Crieff hotel close to fruition

A new housing development is close to fruition with more than 10 flats being built on the former site of a Crieff hotel.

Such was the dilapidated state of the Crown Hotel in East High Street, Kingdom Housing Association deemed the only solution was to demolish the building and start afresh by creating 14 affordable homes for the Strathearn town.

The hotel closed its doors around 17 years ago and remained unused until interest came from Kingdom Housing, who bought the property in December 2012.

A spokesman for Kingdom Housing yesterday said the project’s aim was to “tackle a longstanding problem property” and make a “positive and lasting contribution to Crieff town centre”.

She said: “The Crown Hotel in Crieff is the association’s first landbank purchase in Perth and Kinross.

“It is also its first landbank purchase that includes an existing building that requires redevelopment.

“Following the site purchase, Perth and Kinross Council included the project in the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Supply Programme as a 2014-15 site start.”

She continued: “The site was acquired with planning permission in place for an alternative scheme.

“Kingdom obtained planning approval for its revised scheme consisting of 14 flats for social rent in February 2014 and building warrant approval was received in August last year.”

Kingdom decided to demolish the old building – mainly due to its poor condition – and also because of the existence of asbestos on site.

The housing association were also faced with costs associated with obtaining permission from adjoining properties and creating a new connection across a mutual wall.

The spokesman said: “Retention of the existing building was considered by the earlier site owner and also Kingdom.

“However, the building’s condition was unsafe due to earlier renovations that damaged its structural integrity, exacerbated by years of no maintenance.”