Architects have defended plans to demolish a landmark Perth church, amid fresh calls to have the building preserved.
The YMCA wants to tear down the former St Andrew’s and St Stephen’s Parish Church on Atholl Street.
Bosses at the young people’s organisation want to clear the site and make way for a new YMCA operations centre and 21 flats.
The old church, which is owned by the charity, is on the official buildings at risk register and has been described as “unusable” and “unsafe”.
However, some residents living near the site have written to Perth and Kinross Council raising concerns about the potential loss of the building.
In a standardised letter to planners, property owners in North Methven Street say they are worried about the loss of a piece of Perth’s history.
“The church and neighbouring building are an important feature in Atholl Street which is one of the most architecturally interesting streets in Perth,” the letter states.
“It would be a great shame to destroy more of this city’s architectural heritage.
“To lose the frontage of both buildings would be detrimental to the street. It is common practice to keep important facades while rebuilding necessary developments behind.
“Another slab fronted building would look strangely out of place in the middle of the street which is almost entirely Victorian / Georgian frontages. A couple of pieces of sandstone stuck on the front of a modern building hardly make up for what may be lost.”
The letter continues: “Perth must think about its cultural and architectural future. A lack of forethought in the 1960s led to the loss of many interesting buildings in Perth which without doubt would be considered hugely significant today.”
Concerns have also been raised about disruption during the demolition work and potential parking issues.
However, Foulin and Bell Architects, which has drawn up proposals on behalf of the YMCA, has attempted to justify the project in a letter to council officers.
A spokesman said: “Sadly, the previous 13 years of limited repairs and constant striving to provide possible options for the re-use of the existing buildings and/or look for possible sources of grant assistance, partnership funding or, latterly, restoring purchasers, have served to illustrate the point that an economically viable solution for the repair and restoration of the existing buildings is not forthcoming.
“The buildings continue to deteriorate meanwhile to the point that it is considered highly unlikely that a restoring purchaser will ever be found within the current depressed construction market.”
He said the proposed plan, which was welcomed at a recent meeting of city centre traders, would be “financially viable”.
The church went on the market in October 2014 and attracted 10 expressions of interest. However, each of these negotiations fell through when parties were shown around the site.
