by JayKay » Wed Jul 07, 2004 11:12 am
The press release on the St Peter's redevelopment, from the Glasgow Catholic Church Press Office. A bit long but I thought it worth posting so that you could get it from the horses mouth as it were.
Worth noting that it is they that describe it as post-modern, and the Herald Hack has just continued the error.
New Plans for St Peter's Seminary, Cardross
Planning Application lodged to transform run-down estate.
One of Scotland's finest examples of post-modern architecture together with
its surrounding estate could be re-opened for recreational use if a Planning
Application launched on Friday (2 July 2004) by the Archdiocese of Glasgow
is approved.
Under the scheme, the acclaimed ¹A-listed¹ St. Peter¹s Seminary building,
regarded as one of the finest works of Glasgow Architects Gillespie Kidd and
Coia, would be safeguarded and partially restored and Kilmahew Estate in
which the seminary building revitalised and opened up for the amenity of the
local community
Under this innovative scheme the Church would gift ownership to the local
community through a local management team following stabilization of the
listed building, restoration of the listed bridges and completion of
essential work to the estate.
The new scheme follows extensive consultation with the local council, the
community and interested amenity bodies together with Historic Scotland.
In addition to the stabilization and environmental works to the estate, 28
new homes will be discreetly located within the old walled garden with the
existing lodges on the estate being renovated for habitation. Money raised
from these sources will finance the works to the estate and buildings.
It is intended that the works will create significant local opportunity for
employment and training.
Launching the application, Archbishop Mario Conti, Archbishop of Glasgow
said: "This proposal will hopefully bring to an end a 20 year search for an
appropriate solution to the problem of how best to preserve the old seminary
building and the estate. The Archdiocese has spent substantial sums on the
property in an attempt to keep it secure. Our plans will involve a
significant improvement in amenities for the local population, the securing
of a vulnerable listed building and the gifting of the estate to a
management body to ensure a healthy long-term future.
"Over the years the Archdiocese has, despite all the difficulties of an
exposed site, gone to immense trouble and expense to act as a responsible
custodian of the fine architecture to be found within the estate. We have
worked hard to ensure these new proposals have the support of the local
population and we dare to hope that the planning department will view them
favourably."
Backing for the new plan also came from the local community. Chairman of
Cardross Community Council and local Church of Scotland minister, Rev Andrew
Scobie, said: ³There have always been close ties between Kilmahew and the
local Cardross community, and for long people enjoyed and valued access to
the estate. Community Councils have a statutory right to be consulted on
local planning matters and the present proposals for Kilmahew will assuredly
be given the full support of the Community Council.²
John Sheridan, Director of Classical House, the developer who would oversee
the transformation of the estate said: "We have assembled a skilled
professional team to take this complex but innovative project forward. The
intention is to ensure that the structure continues to offer opportunity for
re-use at some time in the future by resolving issues that prevent this."