The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Work on community hall and gym in Perth to begin this year
Former Waverley Hotel demolished paving the way for £3.6m development
Work on a £3.6 million community hall and gym on the site of the old Waverley Hotel in Perth will begin later this year.
The former hotel in York Place, Perth, has been demolished, meaning the next phase of the project, spearheaded by Stagecoach tycoon Ann Gloag, can go ahead.
Demolition crews have been in place since Perth and Kinross Council granted permission to tear down the landmark in November.
The Waverley Hotel had been used as a homeless hostel in recent years.
It closed its doors in August 2011 and had fallen into such a state of disrepair that the council agreed it was no longer economically viable.
The death knell was sounded for the building after a massive blaze left a hole in its roof in November 2015.
The new multi-use hall and gym will be available for community use, with an open space at the front.
It was initially thought the site might need to undergo an archaeological dig.
However, it has since been established that this will not be necessary since it is located outwith the medieval core of Perth.
Archaeological experts visited the site of the former hotel in 2016 to carry out a historic building survey.
Pictures and drawings taken then have now been archived.
A spokesman for Ms Gloag said work at the site was “progressing well” and confirmed preparations were being made for the next stage of work to create the multi-use hall and gym.
“The project is progressing and building will commence later in the year,” she said.
“An exact date is not available.” Conservative councillor Chris Ahern said he was glad to see the old Waverley Hotel demolished.
“When you drive past the site it looks a lot better now and I’m looking forward to the next phase,” he said.
“The old hotel had become an eyesore and I had received complaints from residents who live nearby about its condition.
“York Place/Glasgow Road is one of the main routes into Perth so it was important that the building was demolished.”
When you drive past the site it looks a lot better now and I’m looking forward to the next phase. COUNCILLOR CHRIS AHERN