Perth & Kinross Council will today be asked to agree proposals to refurbish a row of shops and the flats above them in Perth.

Owned by the council, proposed upgrade work would improve the appearance of the Dunkeld Road property and enhance its overall visual appeal as well as improve parking and pedestrian safety.

The redevelopment would ensure that shop units comply with all current statutory requirements relating to fire precautions, electrical and gas safety, welfare and hygiene, and that the flats meet social housing requirements set by the Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SQHS) and Energy Efficiency Standard.

If approved, detailed design work would begin next month and retail units could be ready for occupation on a rolling basis from as soon as January 2016.

Convenor of housing & health, councillor Dave Doogan, said: “As people will understand, the shops on the Dunkeld road are a very important local resource with seven out of eight retail units occupied.

“As a council we plan to fully upgrade the shops inside and out which will hopefully lead to the eighth property being let also. The programme will also see the flats above redeveloped to ensure they meet the exacting Scottish Quality Housing Standard.

“Once this work is completed the properties will continue to serve the community but will have a new appearance which will enhance the local environment and compliment the adjacent new housing due to be built soon.”

The council will also note the significant investment and improvements made to support energy efficiency in households across Perth and Kinross, and will be updated on further energy-saving initiatives for 2015-16.

Since March 2012 the council has invested £28.2m in significant and innovative work to reduce energy inefficiencies and fuel poverty in households.

Starting in July 2013, the council has also targeted ‘hard to heat’ houses under the Scottish Government’s Home Energy Efficiency Programmes Area Based Schemes (HEEPS-ABS) and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). One of the key elements of the HEEP-ABS programme is a requirement for Councils to source supplementary funding from energy companies through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). Unlike HEEP-ABS funding, ECO funds can be used to pay for certain energy-saving measures in both private and Council owned houses.

Councillor Dave Doogan added: “The work we have undertaken with our partners has seen a dramatic change in people’s ability to heat their homes affordably and efficiently. The level of investment reflects our ambition, as both the Council and a landlord, to improve the quality of both social and private housing in our communities.

“Perth & Kinross Council officers have worked skilfully and strategically to attract many millions of pounds of investment from other sources and their grasp of this complex funding regime has resulted in unprecedented and very visible results across Perth and Kinross.”

@PerthandKinross

www.pkc.gov.uk