People could soon be paying to spend a night in the cells after plans to turn Crieff ’s former cop shop into holiday accommodation were revealed.
Local property developer William Frame bought the old police station in King Street as he said he did not want to see another iconic Crieff building be allowed to decay.
Mr Frame plans to ask Perth and Kinross Council for permission to create six one-bedroom rental apartments in the large three-storey building.
And the original police cells would be turned into bunkhouse accommodation, retaining their original features.
Mr Frame said: “People can come and stay in the jail house. It would be an authentic experience. We will be leaving the cells as they are but putting in three shower rooms and an outside decking area.
“The station was well built in 1901 and is in quite good condition.
“We will be quite clever with our interior design and create smart one-bedroom flats.
“The bunkhouse will be for cyclists, motorbikers, hillwalkers or groups of people that come here.”
Mr Frame says it is a project that will benefit Crieff and bring more business into town. He is also using local tradesmen.
He continued: “A town’s destiny reflects the energy of the people. A town, city, family – it’s all the same – the end result is the energy you put in to it.
“In Crieff we see examples of buildings that are falling in to utter disrepair and end up being demolished and, to me, that is just horrific and a reflection of gross mismanagement on behalf of the previous owners who didn’t spend any money, didn’t reinvest their earnings back into the building.
“You look after your car, you look after your house, you should look after your commercial properties.”
Mr Frame continued: “We can all play our part in getting Crieff tidied up and in turn create a strong and vibrant local economy.
“For example, 20 years ago you couldn’t get a decent cappuccino in Crieff – now we have a Michelin star restaurant leading the charge amidst some excellent eateries in Crieff, Comrie and Muthill.
“The area has come a long way and huge amounts can be achieved going ahead.”
