Locals in Killin have won their bid to demolish a corrugated iron shed in the centre of the village, which was deemed too historically valuable to knock down.
Local charity the George Hogg Trust had submitted an application to demolish the storage shed at Morenish Place off Main Street, to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park planners.
However, the planners refused the bid earlier this year saying it was of “special interest” and that the Killin Conservation Area Appraisal refers to ‘fine examples of corrugated iron buildings all centred on the sinuous Main Street’ - as a result of Breadalbane Estate’s interest in the manufacturing of the material - and further states that ‘the surviving examples are important both in the history of building material and in the development of Killin’.
The trust, however, appealed to the Scottish Government’s planning appeals division, the DPEA - which has now overturned the refusal.
In his decision, DPEA reporter Mike Shiel, who visited the site in July, said: “I acknowledge that the building is of some historic interest, albeit that it has been altered by the use of a modern roof cladding.
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“The planning authority suggests that this could be replaced by more traditional corrugated iron, but I am sceptical as to whether that would ever happen.
“It is clearly an ancillary building intended to serve the residential and commercial properties in Morenish Place fronting onto Main Street. Whilst visible from that street, it is not particularly noticeable. At the rear it is seen in the context of the gardens of the flats. It is a building of utilitarian appearance, although it appears to be in reasonable external condition.
“Whilst I appreciate the planning authority’s concerns about the historic interest of corrugated-iron buildings in Killin, I consider that each case has to be determined on its individual merits. The fact is that this is an unexceptional building, of no particular aesthetic merit, the interest of which stems solely from its cladding material. If it had been clad in some other material (for example, timber or brick), would there have been any concerns over its demolition? I suspect not.
“I am not convinced that its demolition would have any significant impact on the character or appearance of Killin Conservation Area.
“In this case the appellant is proposing to use the space created by the removal of the building to provide parking spaces for the tenants of Morenish Place.
“This application is concerned solely with the demolition of the building in question. Whether the use of the land for parking would need to be the subject of a planning application is a matter for the planning authority in the first instance.
“Nevertheless, it is important that, following the removal of the building, the land it occupied is not left in a derelict or untidy condition.
“In that context, I am satisfied that the proposal to provide a tarmac area in place of the storage building would meet that requirement. I have therefore imposed a condition to that effect.”
In their appeal submission the charity had said: “The benefits to the wider community would be that up to six tenants’ cars would be able to safely park behind the building thus meaning the main street at this point would be free from these vehicles. This would make it safer for the flow of traffic through this part of the village. It would vastly improve the amenity and access for the tenants of the building.
“The installing of six electric charging points in the proposed car park area means that the Trust is mindful of the way forward in providing its tenants with future facilities for electric vehicles.
“The demolition of the existing building, to make space for car parking with new storage sheds being situated in a different part of the large garden ground, will help the Trust with its vision of moving forward in a progressive and modern way, without impacting on the Conservation Area.”
