The revitalisation of a rundown 17th Century city centre building and historic close has been recognised with the biennial Perth Civic Trust Award.
This year’s award, for restoration and renovation, goes to the Cunningham Graham Close and tenement properties project in Perth High Street.
The entry was submitted by Isobel Butt, chair of the High Street Owners Association, and it impressed independent judges Mark Hopton, an award-winning conservation specialist and partner in LDN Architects, Edinburgh, and Steve Brady, manager of the Scottish Civic Trust.
The assessors were impressed with the quality of the work – both technically and architecturally – at the High Street tenements and hailed it as “an inspiring piece of restoration and renovation work to an important historic property now in multiple ownership.”
They noted: “With determination and skilful co-ordination, everyone pulled together to get the work done. Traditional materials and trades were used and the completed project, other than for a minor issue concerning the visibility of external cabling, now sets the standard for the street and the centre of Perth as a whole.
“It sets the standard for other similar developments in the city centre.”
The judges were impressed with the quality of entries, which represented the range of work being carried out to enhance the city.
Commendations were awarded to Sam and Kim Wightman of Kisa’s for their Mill Street restaurant conversion and also for the external refurbishment at The Salutation Hotel.
Commenting on Kisa’s, the assessors were encouraged by the new use of an old building which had stood empty for many years.
The Salutation Hotel is regarded as a major historic building within the city centre and the judges said the repair and renovation work has transformed the previously rundown appearance of the building to “contribute significantly to the improvement of Perth’s amenities.”
Responding to the main accolade, Councillor John Kellas, Perth and Kinross Council’s convener of the enterprise and infrastructure, said: “We are delighted that the project at 13 to17 High Street has won the Perth Civic Trust Award 2016.
“The project, which involved the comprehensive restoration of a very prominent historic building dating back to 1699, has resulted in two new businesses moving into the refurbished retail units, one of which is owned by the council. In addition, living conditions have been much improved for the occupiers of the flats above.
“The completion of the project, which was carried out using traditional materials and techniques, has greatly improved the appearance of this listed building and has encouraged other similar developments in the city centre.
“We are pleased that the council, along with Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, who grant funded the project through the Perth City Heritage Fund, were able to assist the Owners Association and the professional team to see this very worthwhile project through to completion.”
