Elected Member Briefing - Update on fire incident in Perth city centre

The purpose of this briefing is to provide an update following the 12.30pm meeting of the Incident Management Team in relation to this weekend's Perth city centre fire. 

Briefing Information

Investigations into the cause of the fire at Scott Street are continuing.

The control zone around the locus of the fire has been reduced to the smaller inner cordon area but existing road closures remain in place for Scott Street and South Street for now.

Pedestrian access to 25 and 28 Scott Street and Loretta House, and businesses on Scott Street up to and including Craigdon, opposite the damaged building has been made available from 9am this morning. Residents at these properties are being supported by Council staff and the Red Cross to resettle back into their homes. Businesses up to the cordon area are now able to trade as normal.

The Mela Festival parade, scheduled to take place through Perth city centre on Sunday 29 June has been cancelled as a mark of respect to those affected by the fire. The Festival itself will take place on the North Inch, starting at 12 noon.

Support for residents

Housing and Social Work staff and the Red Cross are continuing to offer advice and support to affected residents.

For those who will not be able to return to their homes for a significant period of time (properties in the inner cordon), we are starting to plan co-ordinated visits to their homes in a safe and controlled manner with support from colleagues in Police Scotland so that essential belongings can be collected and appliances turned off. Unfortunately residents from 41 Scott Street will not be able to return to their homes due to the significant fire damage and safety risk.

Public messaging has been issued to ask local landlords or AirBnB owners to get in touch with the Council's Housing Team by emailing privatesectoraccess@pkc.gov.uk if they have any accommodation that is currently available to support residents who are displaced for longer.

All residents currently have accommodation until at least Friday. Housing staff are continuing to work hard to source longer term accommodation for those affected.

Donations continue to be handed in to the Salutation Hotel and we are looking at how best these can be managed and what support is now most useful for those displaced by the fire.

Support for businesses

Businesses within the inner cordon will remain closed. Our Economic Development Team have been speaking to them today to see what arrangements can be put in place to provide help and support. 

This support will continue and develop throughout the duration of the closure. Any impacted businesses who have not yet been in touch, can contact businessdevelopment@pkc.gov.uk for support and advice.

Road closures

Gas disconnection is expected to take place on Wednesday.

Once that is completed, partial vehicular access will be reinstated to the outer cordon, including to Scott Street car park from Kinnoull Street. Part of Scott Street car park will remain closed off for demolition plant/vehicles but the majority of the car park will be available. 

South Street above the closed junction (between Scott Street and South Methven Street) will remain closed to traffic as there is no safe way of getting vehicles back out safely. Parking has been suspended on both sides of South Street between King Edward Street and Princes Street to allow for two-way traffic and make access easier, in particular for heavy goods vehicles servicing the city centre.

It is anticipated Tay Street will re-open to traffic on Thursday evening allowing access on to Marshall Place although part of Shore Road will remain closed until the final resurfacing works are completed.

The Roads Maintenance Partnership are liaising with colleagues in the Public Transport Unit to consider and implement any additional measures required to facilitate changes required to local bus services, for example additional temporary bus stops.

Demolition

37-43 Scott Street was listed by Historic Environment Scotland in 2010.

The building was built between 1897 and 1899 and consideration is being given to what historic aspects of the building could be saved for alternative use during the demolition process.

Last modified on 17 September 2025