Working independently and collaboratively to preserve, enhance and increase understanding of Perth and Kinross’s historic environment
Since 1988 the Trust has been achieving a wide remit encompassing historic building conservation, archaeology, access to the historic environment and interpretation. Supported by Heritage Lottery Fund Transition funding, the Trust began an organisational review in 2016 which culminated in our 2017-22 strategic plan. This document sets out our vision, values and priorities and has recently been updated with a Covid-19 response statement for 2021-22 and a further strategic plan for the 2023-2027 period.
Our emphasis has always been, and continues to be, on a high quality approach, bringing economic, social and educational benefit while securing a future for Perth and Kinross’s historic environment.
Our vision is:
“A Perth and Kinross that values, embraces and enhances the economic, social and environmental benefits of its historic environment.”
Our mission is:
“Working independently and collaboratively, we will strive to preserve, enhance and increase understanding of Perth and Kinross’s historic environment.”
We realise our vision, mission and objectives through the development and delivery of projects, the administration of grants, the provision of information and advice, and a programme of outreach, learning and training activities.
Conserving our shared cultural heritage is important for many reasons: maintaining ‘sense of place’, providing a resource for learning and education for local communities, and as a driver for sustainable economic development through events and destinations for visitors and tourists. We believe the rich physical heritage of Perth and Kinross, in the form of archaeological remains and historic buildings and landscapes, should be enjoyed by everyone, and we aim to facilitate this through our projects and outreach events. We are committed to developing and delivering activities and projects that increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of the historic environment. Supported by a range of funders, our outreach, learning and participation activities are often delivered as a core part of larger funded projects such as the King’s Seat Hillfort Archaeology Project. Outside of these projects, we also co-ordinate annual feature event programmes such as Doors Open Days.
Please explore our website to find out more about what we do and why we do it.
As a local authority Perth & Kinross Council has a wide remit in relation to planning and economic development including managing and securing investment in the historic environment. The rich history of the area and quality of the historic environment is a major driver in attracting domestic and overseas visitors to the area and in contributing to communities’ cultural identity and sense of place. Continuing effective management and investment is therefore required to help support the tourist economy and maintain the cultural identity of the area and historic fabric of our communities as well as meeting the Council’s duties as a planning authority.
In terms of archaeology, Scottish Planning Policy (2010) and Planning Advice Note (PAN) 2: Planning and Archaeology (2011) outlines how Local Authorities aim to conserve the archaeological resource through the planning process and the Trust delivers an on-going service to Perth & Kinross Council with respect to their management of archaeology
With respect to Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas, the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the principal piece of legislation regarding Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas, supported by SPP23: Planning and the Historic Environment (2008). The statutory List of buildings considered of special architectural and historic interest is researched, compiled and maintained by Historic Scotland, however it is the Local Authority that administers Listed Building Consent, the permission to alter or demolish Listed Buildings. The Act also requires PKC to designate Conservation Areas, i.e. ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest the character of which is desirable to preserve or enhance’ and, importantly, ‘to formulate and publish, from time to time, proposals for the preservation and enhancement of any part of their district which are Conservation Areas’.
The Trust supports the discretionary powers and statutory duties of the Council in relation to the enhancement of Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas by providing Historic Building Grants, to support the Council’s priorities for investment in the historic environment and investment in the public realm and public buildings in these areas .
The Gannochy Trust
The Gannochy Trust is a major grant awarding charitable trust founded in 1937 by Arthur Kinmond Bell, known as A K Bell, for charitable and public purposes for the benefit of the Community of Perth and its immediate environs as a direct result of his family’s successful whisky distilling business. A K Bell’s philanthropy has been developed into one of the more substantial grant-making trusts in Scotland.
Originally, the Trust contributed to worthy charitable causes solely within Perth and its immediate environs. In 1967 a Scheme of Alterations was approved by the Court of Session to expand its grant-making footprint to the whole of Scotland, but with a preference for Perth and its environs. The Trust has made significant contributions to a wide variety of projects across Scotland over many years, ranging from major national flagship projects to smaller, but nonetheless important, community projects. It has been a major funding partner since the establishment of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.
Perth Civic Trust
Perth Civic Trust was formed in 1967 to act as a forum for those concerned with the future development of the city of Perth and its surroundings. This is achieved by stimulating public interest in the preservation of those buildings and neighbourhoods, which are part of Perth’s historic and architectural heritage, and by encouraging well-considered town-planning with a view to integrating the old with the new.
