Controversial plans are proceeding to demolish a listed building in the centre of Broughty Ferry despite a deluge of local objections.
Architect Roger Brunton said the cottage at 383 Brook Street is of category C status the lowest grading possible and indicating only local interest.
“There are plenty of cases in the past where category C listed buildings have been demolished to make way for better developments and this is what we are trying to do here,” he said.
“There is nothing unusual in this. For example, look at what is happening in Perth where there is a bid to demolish the category A listed City Hall.
“A building having listed status doesn’t mean it should be wrapped in cotton wool and nothing should be done to it for evermore.
“The cottage at 383 Brook Street is an 18th century house which is in a poor condition and uneconomic to upgrade. It is of no special architectural merit. We think there is a greater need in Broughty Ferry to replace it with a modern development of ten flats for rent.”
Historic Scotland have rejected the request of Mr Brunton’s client Anthony Moir, owner of the cottage, to have the cottage de-listed a step that would have simplified the process for its removal and the site’s redevelopment.
The Scottish Government executive agency that safeguards the nation’s historic environment described 383 Brook Street as an important part of the early history of Broughty Ferry.
“It is a good example of a simple worker’s cottage which was designed to be part of a set-piece of a grid pattern of cottages in line with other planned towns of the period,” the organisation stated.
“Both it and its neighbour at 391 Brook Street provide an important piece of early streetscape architecture along not only Brook Street but also to the opening into St Vincent Street, and the relative lack of alterations to the street elevation, in particular to the roof, add to the interest.
“The cottage at 383 is a relatively modest example of its type but in terms of the early history of Broughty Ferry and the relatively unaltered external appearance it has merit. For these reasons it is considered that the current listing at category C remains appropriate as that recognises its local interest.”
Mr Moir is now taking the alternative route of applying to Dundee City Council for listed building demolition consent as well as for planning permission to build the 10 flats at the corner of Brook Street and St Vincent Street.
Mr Moir’s neighbour Ian McGill has collected more than 170 signatures on petitions objecting to the plans.
Broughty Ferry Community Council are also opposed to the project.
The objectors believe a block of flats would be out of character with the other buildings in the area.
The proposal for 10 flats follows a previous bid for 16 flats at the site. It also ran into local opposition and was rejected by Dundee City Council.