A property developer is spending £200,000 to develop a prime site in Perth city centre which has been empty for more than two years.
Grovemoor Properties is undertaking work at the substantial former Argos shop, which closed in 2020.
The developer, with financial assistance from Perth & Kinross Council, will turn it into three units.
The shop will be split into two ground floor units while a separate first floor property will have a dedicated entrance off High Street.
The council’s planning department has recently granted class 3 restaurant consents for the two new ground floor properties. The two units extend to 1,900 sq ft and 1,950 sq ft.
The open plan first floor premises benefits from Class 11 (leisure) consent and extends to 4,000 sq ft.
This could attract a gym/martial arts/snooker hall operator or another type of other business, such as office use.
Perth High Street properties offered for let or sale
The investment comes at the same time as £26m is being spent turning nearby Perth City Hall into a museum, which scheduled to open next year.
The new museum, located on St Johns Place, is estimated to bring an additional 162,000 visitors a year.
Councillor Andrew Parrott is convenor of Perth and Kinross Council’s Environment, Infrastructure and Economic Development Committee.
He said: “We want our town and city centres to thrive and I am pleased to see how our Adapt Your Property grants are being used to bring empty units back into use.”
Under the council scheme grants of up to £75,000 (or up to 50% of costs) are available to adapt eligible properties.
The units at 52-58 High Street are being advertised for let or for sale by Culverwell.
The brochure states: “The premises are located on the south side of the High
Street in the block bounded by King Edward Street and Kirkgate.
“Nearby occupiers include M&S, Superdrug, HSBC, Caffè Nero, Fat Face and
TUI. Round the corner on St Johns Place are a number of local bars and
restaurants.”
Conversation