£1m demolition of B-listed school building approved

The B-listed main building at the former home of Rothesay Academy is finally set to be demolished, at a cost of nearly £1m.

Argyll and Bute Council planning officials have approved the authority’s own application for ‘listed building consent’ to demolish the Academy Road premises, which have lain empty since 2007 and have increasingly become a focus for vandalism and anti-social behaviour since then.

Only a single expression of support was received from the public, with no objections. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) were also reported to have raised no objections.

The decision was taken without elected councillors being involved, and a report said: “HES have stated that a listed building cannot be replaced when it is gone, and there is a strong presumption in national planning policy for their retention.

The former school was opened in 1959 and designed by David Harvey.

HES’ Buildings At Risk register describes it as a ‘very fine modernist building’ and the listing designation states: “The former Rothesay Academy is an important example of secondary school architecture of the 1950s in Scotland.

“Prominently located on high ground facing the sea with commanding views over the town, the aspirational design breaks away from the Art Deco influences of the inter-war period.

“It uses overtly modernist devices such as narrow supporting columns (pilotis), sheer glazed curtain-wall classroom blocks and angular projections to emphasise its balanced, asymmetrical composition.

“It is one of a small number of post-war school buildings of this quality in the west of Scotland.”

The report added that a survey had found ‘a series of significant defects, including penetrating damp throughout the building, failing roof coverings, failing rainwater goods, and structural defects throughout the building’s external fabric’.

It also said there were several areas where ‘poor workmanship’ had been contributing to the advancement of decay throughout.

“It (the building) has become a magnet for vandalism, fire raising and anti-social behaviour. Both the police and fire services have regularly been involved and are keen for the council to address the situation,” the report adds.

“Adjacent homeowners and occupiers have similarly raised concerns and have noted the poor condition of the property.

“There are health and safety implications and the council’s insurers have raised concerns that there may be a significant risk of injury or even loss of life from parties entering the building illegally.

“Security has been a key concern in light of the above and the council has spent significant sums securing the building with steel plates and appropriate signage.

“However, even this has not proven to be 100% effective with reports of vandals using power tools to remove the panels to obtain access.”

Source: The Lochside Press