November 18 2024

A historic terrace fronting Dunblane Cathedral is to be returned to residential use following the closure of the Old Churches House hotel on Kirk Street.

Alistair Forbes Architect has been commissioned by a local applicant to fashion three family houses from the property, including a B-listed Georgian manse joined by two listed terraces dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. A B-listed chapel likely dating from the 16th century is also included in the plans.

In a statement, the applicant wrote: "Scottish Churches House dates from the 1700s and forms a terrace of buildings within the Dunblane Cathedral square. Designed and originally used as housing, the buildings have been adapted and utilised for a range of functions including as a religious study centre and since 2013 a hotel, office space and gym.

"The applicants’ have purchased the buildings following the hotel operator’s intention to close the business. Their aim is to return the buildings back into residential use through a design approach that will enable the terrace to be read as a series of distinct but integrated buildings as originally designed and to respect the setting and character of the Cathedral Square."

Interventions revolve around reinstating the original vertical party wall subdivision and replacing roof lights with period-accurate dormers. At the northern end of the terrace horizontal windows will be swapped out for vertical variants to match existing with a new main entrance to the rear behind a new render canopy.  

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