Hadden Construction have been awarded a new contract to transform the B-listed former St Paul's Church on Perth's Old High Street with works commencing this month.

The start of work is a major milestone in the project which will see one of the city's most high profile empty buildings brought back into use as a public arts and events space. The shape of the unusual hexagonal building and the spire will be retained and the roof removed so that it becomes an outdoor space.

Councillor Murray Lyle, Leader of Perth & Kinross Council said: "St Paul's is a prominent feature of the Perth skyline, and I know it was a source of sadness and frustration for residents, visitors and businesses, when it lay empty for decades and latterly fell into a state of disrepair.

"When the Council took the unusual step of deciding to purchase the building in January 2017, it provided an opportunity to not only save St Paul's, but also to help make a real feature of this part of Perth city. The Old High Street, South Methven Street, and St Paul's Square support a range of independent businesses, with the development of Mill Quarter at Thimblerow as a new retail and leisure site, we had an opportunity to make St Paul's an asset for the area.”

"This investment by the Council will shine a light on this part of the city centre, making it more attractive to investors and tourists, and creating a unique public space which will complement the new cultural and events spaces in Mill Street, Perth Theatre, and the transformed Perth City Hall."

Perth & Kinross Council completed the purchase of St Paul's Church in early 2017. Since then enabling works carried out on site to date by our Hadden General Works team included:

• removal of the pews and other fixtures
• environmental cleaning/stabilising work within the main church building and steeple
• removal of overhead risks (loose slates, masonry, vegetation, other debris)
• repair works to the steeple
• removal of many cubic metres of pigeon waste

Scott Hadden, Chairman of Hadden Group commented: “We’re proud to have been entrusted by our own local authority to deliver these important historic works to a prominent city centre church which will secure the future of the building for many years to come.”