Network Rail have objected to a developer’s plans to transform an old railway station signal box in Perthshire - said to be the only one of its kind still in existence - into holiday accommodation.
A company calling itself Murthly Signal Box Ltd, after the boarded-up B-listed building it wishes to renovate, applied to Perth and Kinross Council for consent to make the change two months ago.
Glasgow-based architects Lucid Architecture told the local authority in a supporting statement their proposal involved turning the late 19th Century structure into “a small tourist letting unit” comprising a new bedroom or bed area, a small living area, a kitchen and a shower room.
Their statement said: “The interior becomes a pleasant and quirky place for tourists to stay and experience the signal box and being near a railway line in the centre of a beautiful Perthshire village.”
But Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust (PKHT) advised the council to add a negative suspensive condition to any consent given to the company to bring the unique building back into use obliging it to complete an archaeological standing building survey first.
The body said in its comments on the application: “The proposed development site is considered to be archaeologically sensitive as it includes the alteration of a Grade B listed signal box which dates from the late 19th Century, built for the Highland Railway.
“According to the monument record this signal box is a particularly interesting variation of the standard McKenzie and Holland Type 3 due to various additional architectural details.
“This example is the only one of its type that remains in existence, the other three since lost.
“Therefore, full retention of the historic fabric should be at the heart of any redevelopment at this site.
“The retention and repair of the signal box is very welcome, however as conversion would alter its character to domestic, along with the associated physical changes, we recommend that should this application be successful that a negative suspensive condition for standing building recording be attached to consent to ensure a permanent record is made of this historic building complex prior to and alterations being made.”
Now Network Rail has now told the council it considers the proposed change in use could prove dangerous to visitors and residents and has filed an objection to the application being passed by planners.
The railway company has told PKC: “Network Rail must object to the application on the grounds that the proposal as it stands could adversely affect the safe operation of the level crossing on Station Road.
“There are several reasons for this.
“All visitors arriving at the signal box will have to traverse the crossing to reach the accommodation.
“The lack of car parking provision and the siting of the access gate means there is a risk that visitors will park by the access gate, in close proximity to the level crossing to unload their vehicles, especially in poor weather.
“This could result in traffic at the crossing and due to the bend of the road this could import greater road traffic risk.
“There is a risk that visitors may turn left onto the railway due to the close proximity of the signal box in poor weather conditions.
“If Network Rail were to upgrade the crossing in the future to a full barrier crossing, the positioning of the gate could jeopardise this safety improvement due to the skew in the road and with the siting of the access gate within Network Rail land.”
The application awaits further comment from consultees and a decision from PKC.
