The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Investors buy into vision for harbour
PLANS TO transform the River Tay in Perth into a bustling visitor destination with water taxis, leisure craft moorings and a floating heritage centre have taken a leap forward.
It has been revealed a number of private investors are vying to pump money into Perth Harbour, a key element of the council’s Inner Tay Masterplan.
The ambitious document promotes the regeneration and the integration of development proposals along the river.
While Perth Harbour will retain a commercial heart, the additional prospect of private financing of leisure projects downstream from the city sits well with the masterplan’s vision of “a vibrant, busy and thriving River Tay”.
The move from the drawing board to reality has already started as the council recently applied to build pontoons at key points on the river to allow people to enjoy cruising downstream from the city.
Now it has emerged that the marketing of Perth Harbour has attracted considerable interest, paving the way for the council’s wish that the area would be best served by privatesector investment.
Property consultancy Bidwells has set a deadline for potential investors to reveal their plans — the f irst step of the marketing process put in motion by the council will close at noon on Monday November 24 but already interest has been high.
“We have received a number of expressions of interest in Perth Harbour, highlighting its attractiveness as an investment opportunity in central Scotland,” said Graeme Duncan, head of commercial property at Bidwells.
THOSE GROUPS have been asked to outline their business case and explain how investment will be made to maximise the use of the harbour as an economic asset.
The council will then decide early next year whether or not to pursue these investment opportunities.
If the marketing process led to the council’s property interests in the area being sold, it is understood its holding is worth about £750,000.
Any decision ultimately made by the council to transfer ownership will not affect businesses occupying land on a freehold or long leasehold basis.
The harbour, which has four main berths, operates 24 hours a day handling ships of up to 295ft in length and 2,500 gross tonnage.
A marine development in the harbour to provide moorings for leisure and commercial vessels is already under way, according to the masterplan.
The potential for further leisure-related development at the harbour is underlined by the fact it lies across from another important asset on the river — Moncrieffe Island, which is home to the country’s only selfcontained river island golf course, the King James VI Golf Club.
“A boat link to the island could also be considered and provide a unique attraction for visitors,” the masterplan states.
The look of the harbour will also be important for tourists carried along the river served from the three planned pontoons sited at the Fergusson Gallery onTay Street, near the Willowgate f ishery under the Friarton Bridge and at Elcho Castle at Rhynd.
Unlocking the economic potential of the stretch of the Tay south of Perth which is “little appreciated or used by the public” is an important goal with the harbour likely to play a major part.
At the heart of the vision of the master plan is to establish “an internationally attractive visitor destination, create jobs and increase output”.