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

About this Briefing Note

Report by: Fraser Crofts, Strategic Lead, Environment and Infrastructure

EMBN Number: 074-25

Date: 20 June 2025

Subject: Update on fire incident in Perth city centre

Details

Purpose

The purpose of this briefing is to provide an update following the 12 noon meeting of the Incident Management Team on 20 June in relation to this weekend's Perth city centre fire.

Briefing Information

Investigations into the cause of the fire at Scott Street are continuing and the inner cordon remains in place for the safety of the public because of the dangerous condition of the building.

The Scott Street car park has now re-opened.

Police Scotland is seeking to re-introduce the ban on drones flying over the building during working hours as the drones can interfere with the crane being used for demolition work.

Support for residents

Fifty-five families have been displaced because of the fire.

We are keeping in touch directly with all residents displaced by the Scott Street fire to provide them with updates on alternative accommodation and support.

We are currently working on arrangements for accommodating all 55 households in a range of circumstances and are reiterating our appeal for any private landlords / homeowners to contact us if they are able to help with housing those affected.

Community Support and Enforcement officers will be at the Salutation Hotel between 1pm and 2.30pm on Saturday and Sunday to offer advice to displaced residents as required.

A drop-in session at 2 High Street has been arranged from 1pm to 7pm on Tuesday,  24 June where officers from a range of council services and partner agencies will be in attendance to questions from residents and employees of businesses affected by the fire.

A press release has been issued and the event will be publicised on social media between now and Tuesday. Postcards advertising the event are also being handed to all residents we are working with in the aftermath of the fire to encourage them to attend.

A second session is being arranged for Friday 27 June, alongside one run by Pete Wishart MP and will run from 11am to 2pm. This event will focus on household insurance claims, which fall outwith the remit of the Council. However, we will be on hand to provide additional advice and support to those who need it.

We would like to thank all Elected Members for their support over the past week. We understand many will be receiving contact from a significant number of people who have lost their homes or may lose their livelihood as a result of Saturday's fire and who are urgently seeking advice, information and support.

Officers are working hard to find more permanent accommodation for displaced residents and to provide right support for residents, businesses and others impacted by the fire so please be aware it may not be possible to answer all queries immediately.

Support for businesses

Several businesses remain closed. Our Economic Development Team is continuing to offer 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

Tay Street re-opened to traffic on Thursday evening. Shore Road is expected to reopen this weekend, although traffic lights will remain in place until Monday.

South Street remains closed from its junction with South Methven Street to its junction with Princes Street.

Scott Street is closed from its junction with High Street to its junction with Canal Street.

Information on road closures has been shared on social media and will be updated as necessary.

Bin collections

The road closures will require some changes to bin collections in the affected areas. New bins will be delivered on Friday.

From then, residents on the south side of Scott Street - from South Street to Canal Street - can continue to use bulk bins on Canal Crescent. Temporary bins will be put in place at Charles Street car park on Friday for residents on the right-hand side of the street. Commercial premises can also use these as required.

Residents on the west site of South Street - from South Methven to Scott Street - are being asked to use the bin hub on Canal Crescent or Scott Street car park. We will also create a temporary commercial hub on King Street.

Recovery

As we continue to support our communities and staff to recover from the Scott Street fire we have formally established a Recovery Group. An overarching recovery strategy will be developed and agreed by the group with identified objectives, milestones and timescales. The group have identified the following initial strategic intentions:

• Helping communities and businesses to recover
• Helping staff to recover
• Communication and engagement with communities
• Protect property and infrastructure
• Learning from the incident
• Assurance of business continuity
• Helping investigations and enquiries

The community around Scott Street have experienced a significant emergency and loss. with a wide range of impacts depending on the individual circumstances of the household or business owner including trauma, homelessness, financial hardship, temporary displacement, bereavement and personal injury. 

Due to the nature of the incident and the need to demolish 41 Scott Street, recovery will take many months and for some many years. There is a need therefore to support the personal, family and community structures which have been disrupted and to assist affected individuals and communities towards managing their own recovery. The recovery group will seek to address the enduring human, physical,  environmental, and economic consequences of the incident.

The following workstreams have been operating under the IMT arrangements set up to respond to the incident and will now be reviewed and realigned under the Recovery Group, reporting directly to Clare Mailer.  Arrangements will be kept under constant review and adjustments made as necessary.