City Hall Plans Unveiled

It’s been a long time coming but there is finally some movement in the regeneration of Perth City Hall and plans are afoot to introduce a flagship visitor attraction at the heart of the city centre!

On Monday, Perth and Kinross Council unveiled their plans for a brand new ‘visual arts attraction’ to be based on the site of the old structure, with the aim of attracting more tourists and boosting the bid for City of Culture 2021. It’s a move that has been welcomed across Perthshire as there seems to finally be concrete proposals in place for the regeneration of a building which has been empty for over ten years!

The project will see a 21^st century style museum constructed around the themes of Ancient Roots and Modern Scots – with the hope of also attracting some of the UK’s best touring exhibits to come to our city too. Entry to the facility would be free but it would feature some paid exhibitions as well. It’s part of a wider project from Culture Perth and Kinross which will also see the revamp of Perth Museum and Art Gallery and a brand new storage facility built on the outskirts on the city too. I’m happy and in favour of the City Hall being regenerated. A new visitor attraction will help to bring people into the town which is good news. I love the design with the open roof top area!

The timescale for completion is yet to be confirmed, but it is expected that the planning and design process could take up to two-and-a-half-years – with the actual construction likely to be completed by the end of 2021. Although it provides a welcome boost for Perth’s chances of becoming UK City of Culture, it has been confirmed by the council that the work will go ahead regardless of the outcome the bid.

There’s also a chance for you to have your say – feedback from the public is an important part of the council’s decision making process and the five shortlisted designs are on display until June 24^th at the Civic Hall on 2 High Street, where you can also share your thoughts.

We caught up with some of Perth’s Indies while shopping on North Methven Street and asked them for their thoughts on the City Hall and the new plans put forward by Perth and Kinross Council!

Marian Merron, from Marian’s of Perth: ”I’m happy and in favour of the City Hall being regenerated. A new visitor attraction will help to bring people into the town which is good news. I love the design with the open roof top area!"

Gallery

Donna Baillie, from Baillie’s Newsagents: “I think all of the designs look nice and I think the visitor attraction is good and will attract tourists to the area.”

Catriona Henderson, from WTG Henderson Jewellers: “I think it will be a good thing for Perth – it will bring more people into the town and hopefully they’ll hang around and shop around at the independent retailers too. I’ve always supported doing something with the building rather than knocking it down and I like the look of some of the designs too!”