Scottish Catholic Observer

The monastery’s trustees have applied to the council for an enabling development to build 19 luxury houses in a neighbouring field on Kinnoull Hill, a site that is owned by the trustees.

If approved, the development could raise the £2 million needed to restore the decaying neo-Gothic B-listed building, which has been home to the Redemptorist community since it was built almost 150 years ago.

Fr Ronald McAinsh CSsR, the provincial superior of the order, has warned that ‘only by securing positive support can we avert certain closure’ but has also expressed that he retains hope ahead of tomorrow morning’s meeting of the local authority’s development management committee.

“We are still very hopeful and we are praying for a positive result on Wednesday,” Fr McAinsh said. “We currently do not have the funds to improve the facilities and carry out the necessary repairs of the building.”

In April last year, a previous application, submitted in tandem with private housing developer Cala, was refused on the casting vote of the committee chairman in spite of an appeal by Cardinal Keith O’Brien.

“I ask that you and the members of Perth and Kinross Council give every consideration to the proposals for the future of this land, which is the property of St Mary’s Monastery and Retreat,” the cardinal said of the first application. “Much will depend on your decision—not just locally as to whether or not there will be buildings erected on the land owned by the monastery, but consideration must be given by yourselves as to what might happen to this major retreat house for peoples of all denominations and faiths if they do not realise enough money for the necessary repairs and upgrading of their building to ensure that it is ‘fit for mission’ in the years which lie ahead.”

The second application before the council has attracted 482 letters of support and 95 letters of objection. The meeting on its fate will take place at 9.30am tomorrow at the Council Chambers in Perth.

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