Stone of Destiny guardians have been urged to return the ancient treasure to Perth.
The case to reclaim the famous coronation stone was made to Scottish Government officers during a tour of its prospective city hall home.
A delegation representing the Commissioners of the Regalia — the group responsible for the stone’s safe-keeping — made a fact-finding mission to the Fair City to hear how the artefact could become the centrepiece of a £20 million new arts hub.
The commissioners — whose membership includes First Minister Nicola Sturgeon — are being asked to move the artefact from its current display at Edinburgh Castle, back to its historic Perthshire home.
Council papers have revealed that a team from the Scottish Government’s protocol and honours unit visited Perth last month “to view the city hall site and the emerging designs”.
The local authority will provide extra information to strengthen its bid next month.
The council has also, alongside Culture Perth and Kinross, submitted an application for nearly £5 million of Heritage Lottery Fund money.
If all goes to plan, construction work could begin in April 2019 and will continue for nearly two years.
Charles Kinnoull, chair of Culture Perth and Kinross, said: “The redevelopment of city hall is making good progress.
“It’s encouraging to see all the parties involved working towards a common goal of making city hall not only an exciting destination but a cornerstone of Perth’s cultural transformation.”
In her report to councillors, head of culture and public service reform Fiona Robertson said: “City hall will showcase the story of Perth’s ancient roots and its role in the birth of the Scottish Nation.
“The Stone of Destiny, for which the council has submitted a formal loan request, is viewed as central to the Ancient Roots story.”
She said the new look hall would complement the V&A in Dundee.
Last year, Dutch firm Mecanoo was picked to convert the Edwardian city hall into a major arts hub.
The block has stood empty for more than a decade, while the local authority scrabbled to agree a way forward.
Meanwhile, plans are being drawn up for a new £10 million museum collection store.
The warehouse facility, earmarked for land at Inveralmond, will provide a place to house the council’s vast collection of 100,000 artefacts.
Once the store is built, work can get under way on a radical revamp of Perth Museum and Art Gallery.
While city hall will focus on Ancient Roots, the George Street venue will showcase the story of Perth’s modern Scots including John Duncan Fergusson, Patrick Geddes, David Douglas and John Buchan.
