Fire-hit former Perth school facing demolition

A blaze ripped through the former Balhousie Primary School on June 22.

By Ellidh Aitken

July 1 2025, 10:11am

The burnt-out Perth building once housed Balhousie and Northern District Primary Schools. Image: Stuart Cowper

A former Perth school is facing demolition after a devastating fire.

The blaze ripped through the derelict Balhousie Primary School shortly after midnight on Sunday June 22.

Police arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the fire, and he was later released pending further inquiries.

Officers say the fire is being treated as unexplained and an investigation remains ongoing.

Firefighters remained at the scene for hours after the fire broke out. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson

Balhousie Primary School was closed in 2023 due to its deteriorating condition.

The fire left the 110-year-old building’s roof collapsed and destroyed much of the interior.

Drone images taken for The Courier show only the walls of the old school remain intact.

Perth school facing demolition after devastating fire

Perth and Kinross Council has now confirmed the building faces demolition after structural investigations.

A Dangerous Buildings Notice has been issued due to “serious structural concerns” caused by the fire.

A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Following the significant fire at the former Balhousie Primary School in the early hours of Sunday June 22, the council appointed an independent structural engineer to undertake an assessment of the building.

Drone shots of the former Balhousie Primary School in Perth which has been destroyed by fire. Image: Stuart Cowper

“This was carried out using specialist access equipment and indicates serious structural concerns and recommends demolition.

“As a result, a dangerous buildings notice has been issued for the building.

“As owners of the building, the council is now required to take action under the dangerous buildings notice.

“We understand that this news will be disappointing to everyone who values the building and has fond memories of it, but is an unfortunate result of the scale of the damage from the fire.

“We will engage with neighbours and the wider community on the next steps and will continue to liaise with Historic Environment Scotland.

A blaze ripped through the building on June 22. Image: Supplied

“In the meantime, asbestos monitoring has been installed to the boundaries of the site and to date has been negative for additional airborne particles beyond that normally recorded in the environment.”

Perth and Kinross Council previously submitted proposals to transform the building into 26 homes, including one-bed and two-bed flats, and a three-bedroom house.

The Courier recently reported how firefighters in Perth are at “breaking point” over a plan to remove the city’s third appliance permanently.