A Dundee art student claims owners of a historic Dundee building are stonewalling plans to turn the site into a studio for city graduates.
56 Barrack street was home to Robertson’s for almost 130 years until the firm’s demise in 2011.
Plans have since been lodged with Dundee City Council to turn the building into student accommodation.
The pre-planning application notice, lodged by Structured House Group (SHG), proposes to knock down part or all of the building and replace it with student halls of residence, a restaurant and a cafe.
In March, The Courier told of a campaign by historic architecture lovers whose petition calling for the building to be protected has been signed by more than 700 people.
Now a Dundee artist claims the building’s owner, SHG, is doing all in its power to ignore alternative suggestions for the site.
Visual artist and DJCAD graduate Kirsty Mckeown believes the firm are determined to knock the building down and create student accommodation.
Kirsty revealed: “Last year my colleague Holly and I approached agents about viewing the property.
“We wanted to set up an art studio with space for project and exhibitions.
“We had to be quite persistent for them to even let us come along and see it and when we did the agent said he would be back in touch, but we never heard anything back.
“Holly was quite persistent and contacted them again to ask, but she was completely ignored.”
Kirsty added: “I think they’re hellbent on demolition or turning it into student flats. which I don’t think we need at all in Dundee.
“Both myself and Holly graduated from DJCAD and have both been really involved in the Dundee arts community.
“There is a real lack of studio space for local art and we thought the Robertson’s building could potentially be a studio.
“The V&A cannot be a bad thing but I do think local visual art has been marginalised. This would have been a good asset.”
Campaigner and petition creator Phil Doig said: “This could be a destination building, but the owners seem to be working towards the theory that if the building becomes so run down it will become uneconomically viable — the longer it’s empty the outcome of demolition becomes more likely.”
SHG chief executive Craig Inglis denied the group had been approached by anyone regarding art space.
He added: “We have been through a considerable and lengthy process delaying submission to evaluate further options all of which will be submitted with our application when we are ready.
“It is always our policy to speak with locals and listen to them having carried out a public exhibition and spoken to the relevant bodies directly although we haven’t been contacted by Mr Doig for discussion or anyone regarding an art studio.”
A Dundee City Council spokesperson said it will consider any planning application for the site when and if one is received.