Exclusive: Perth City Hall's revamp begins

May 6 2009

The team primed to transform Perth’s City Hall into a vibrant retail and life-style centre has, for the first time, announced details of its ground-breaking plans.

Scotland’s first inclusive retail, restaurant, exhibition and events centre will open next year at the heart of the Fair City, introducing a regeneration concept which has proven hugely successful in major cities worldwide.

Brian Tanner of developer, Wharfside Regeneration explained: “The project for Perth City Hall is a recession-busting move for the town’s embattled retail centre and a fantastic chance to offer an opportunity to small specialist producers, traders and artists to come together.

“This specialist shopping model began in Boston, USA where artists, fashion designers and crafts people came together with a developer to establishing a destination life-style and trading area in a part of the city which needed regeneration. Together with Perth-based charity, Artspace, our partner in this project, we firmly believe that a similar development will be the vital solution to turn around the fortunes of the Fair City.”

Due for completion early next spring, the refurbished city hall will provide a flexible space hosting retailers from artists to farmers’ markets and specialist clothing boutiques, while also creating a brand new venue for community-focused events.

From the retro bar in the hall’s gallery to the pavement café, every inch of the hall is set to be utilised to the full, welcoming even the very youngest visitors, with a brand new children’s entertainment area created in the Lesser City Hall.

“Our vision is a place where every member of our community feels they belong,” said Artspace founder, Irene Watson. “From the very first time we examined the plans with Brian and his team, we appreciated that accessibility was key. The front steps will be replaced by a welcoming glass-walled entrance at ground level. Inside there will be a true feeling of social enterprise with individual retail units, exhibition space, writers’ café, bar and a performance/ events area.”

The team’s plans reach the final approval stage at the end of May, with work planned to begin later in the summer and, although it is unique to this country, the model is, in fact tried and tested around the UK, including the Corn Exchange in Leeds

The project has the backing of a wide variety of artists and retailers including award-winning musician Loopshaunt who has just been signed up for a prestigious record deal. He wants to set up a record store within the premises: " This is a hugely exciting development. With the right store and on-hand knowledge we can attract specialists buyers from across Scotland. I like what Artspace does and want to be part of it."