Elected Member Briefing - Drummond Arms, Crieff February 2025

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Stephen Crawford, Strategic Lead - Property Services

EMBN Number: 022-25 

Date: 6 February 2025

Subject: Drummond Arms, Crieff

Responsible Officer: Pauline Haddow, Project Manager, Property Services

Details

Purpose

In November 2024, the Council approved a strategy to acquire a derelict hotel building in Crieff, called the Drummond Arms. This is a Category B listed building which has been served with a Dangerous Building Notice (DBN) in October 2024. 

To recap, Committee instructed:

• Officers to acquire the building at nil value and mitigate the public safety risk in compliance with the Dangerous Buildings Notice (DBN).
• Officers be instructed to apply for Listed Building Consent (LBC) and Building Warrant (BW) to demolish the structure.
• Agreed to allocate up to £3 million from the 2025/2026 Capital Budget to cover the demolition costs.
• Officers to prepare a development plan for the provision of a flatted affordable housing development in line with the Council's Corporate Asset Management Strategy.
• Officers to approach the project as a full demolition works to eliminate the risks posed'. 
• Officers to prepare a report to the Scrutiny and Performance Committee on a review of the Drummond Arms Hotel. The scope of the review to be widened to look at the Council's role in funding community led projects.

Members will also recall that in May 2024 council approved a revision to the Disposal of Buildings strategy to prioritise vacant sites for provision of affordable housing.

This Briefing Note is to confirm Property Services' current steps in actioning the instructions of committee.

Briefing Information

The Council purchased the hotel building on the 29 January 2025 from Drummond Arms Regeneration Ltd (DARL).

In actioning the requirements of the DBN, parking restrictions have been implemented alongside temporary hoarding. Site preparation works are including but are not limited to scheduling the appropriate due diligence surveys which shall include dilapidation, 3D surveys, utility, ground, drainage and a rodent control assessments.

Regular monitoring and any change in the condition of the structure is undertaken by Property Services. 

A design team is appointed and shall continue to communicate with Historic Environment Scotland, Building Control and Planning to progress LBC and BW.  

A Demolition Plan in conjunction with the following items listed below is being developed: 

• Specialist Contractor engagement
• All necessary Risk Assessment and Method Statements
• Access and Egress Planning 
• Roof and structural stabilisation planning; establish temporary bracing/ weatherproofing etc 
• Chimney and wellhead safety
• Asbestos Refurbishment Survey 
• Utilities - Investigation works
• Neighbouring property issues and site access/ egress routes 
• Town centre/ trunk road impact    

Whilst the design team/ contractors work through the items above, structural monitoring will progress throughout the process to ensure compliance with Construction Design and Management regulations. 

A programme will follow once the preparation works and the demolition plan are completed by the design team. 

Liaison with neighbouring properties is necessary and public meeting(s)/ communications will be held in advance of significant works commencing.