Controversial plans have been submitted to build houses at a Perth beauty spot to secure the future of a local monastery.
The sale of land beside St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull Hill, to developers CALA has been described as the only way to save the 19th century landmark. But objectors have long opposed the sale, saying the land involved is not zoned for housing and could be the “thin end of the wedge” for house-building on the hill.
The Redemptorist Trustees who own the monastery agreed to sell the six-acre site to meet their £2.5 million renovation costs. CALA plan to build up to 19 detached family homes off Hatton Road.
Course director at St Mary’s, Father Jim McManus, said, “For more than 150 years, the monastery has played a major role in the community as both a beacon of spiritual support and as a tranquil haven for retreat. We now face challenging decisions about its very future.
“CALA’s proposal will allow us to finish renovating and modernising our monastery in line with current regulations including upgrading more than 40 rooms for sleeping and study to meet modern requirements, as well as a range of disabled facilities.
“The income generated from the sale will also allow us to create a fund to ensure the long-term future of St Mary’s, both for the congregation that live and worship here, and as an ecumenical pastoral retreat centre.”
St Mary’s Monastery has stood on Kinnoull Hill’s wooded slopes since the 1860s and has become an important international destination for the Redemptorist Order and followers of all faiths as a spiritual retreat centre.
The internal refurbishment is the final phase of a 10-year restoration that includes upgrading the exterior and restoring the crypt, now used for community events.SupportFather McManus said they had enjoyed grant support from Historic Scotland, local charitable trusts, Perth and Kinross Common Good and the Quality of Life funds, plus generous gifts from supporters and the trustees.
Historic Scotland had helped to fund restoration of the external fabric, but no funding could be found for essential interior upgrading. Countless applications to other funding sources were refused, so the sale of the land became the only hope for a viable long-term future plan for the monastery and for Order to remain in Perth.
“If we are unable to obtain funds through the sale of the land, we will have no alternative than to move from St Mary’s, and put the building and landholding up for sale.”
Derek Lawson, of CALA, said a thorough consultation process with the local community had led to CALA cutting the number of proposed homes on the site to 19.
The site backs onto the Kinnoull Woodland Park and park user groups have been vociferously opposed to any building on it. Chairman Norman Renfrew called it “asset stripping of the worst kind” by the Redemtorists.
A site has been set up at www.cala.co.uk/stmarys for people to view the plans and leave comments. If planning permission is granted, CALA will start work early next year.