Hollywood star Ewan McGregor backs plans for new cinema in Perthshire home town

Hollywood star Ewan McGregor has said recently-approved plans for a cinema development in Crieff could be a “wonderful thing” for the area.

The award-winning actor, who grew up in the town, was speaking shortly after Perth and Kinross Council gave the green light to local charity Creative Crieff’s vision to blend cinema, dining, radio and green spaces together on the site of the former Crieff Hotel in East High Street.

Also known as the Star Hotel in the past, the former hospitality venue closed in 2017 and has been empty ever since.

But the wide-ranging development – to be known as ‘The Star Experience’ and drawn-up in partnership with Fergus Purdie Architects – was approved by PKC earlier this month.

A-lister McGregor (53), whose glittering CV includes the likes of Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge and a recurring role as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars series, said: “I’m so happy to support the new cinema project in Crieff. It will be such a wonderful thing for the town.

“Going to the cinema in Crieff was such a big part of my childhood and I know it’s going to be great for the people of Crieff – and will undoubtedly bring in more visitors too.

“I can’t wait to see the top end of the High Street renewed with a place for everyone to use the bistro, grab a coffee or sit down to enjoy getting lost in a movie.

“Good luck with it and maybe we can arrange a premiere there one day!“

PKC’s Local Review Body approved the wider project in March last year following a successful appeal.

However, further consent was also required as the site sits within the town’s conservation area – which has now also been granted.

Creative Crieff chair John Mauchline said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have had our application approved.

“This is a major step forward towards the rejuvenation of the High Street in Crieff.”

Explaining the cinema element of the plan, a Creative Crieff spokesperson said: “Creative Crieff proudly introduces a novel cinematic experience within ‘The Star Experience’ – a cinema, featuring two state-of-the-art bijou screen rooms , each designed to accommodate approximately 50 guests.

“Our vision includes working collaboratively with local community groups to provide a diverse and culturally-enriching film schedule, thereby enhancing the cinematic diversity of Crieff and ensuring that our offerings resonate with the community’s interests.”

The design statement, compiled by Fergus Purdie Architects, explains: “Following a comprehensive review of the project by Creative Crieff, the proposals have been updated with an alternative design developed to deliver the project intentions.

“The principal uses and functional requirements remain essentially the same as the current ‘as approved’ proposals.

“However, the spacial and operational aspects of the cinema, bistro and radio station have evolved to acknowledge the project review.

“In response to an amended brief the building size has been significantly reduced, thereby providing the opportunity to reshape the project – for example, increase the external landscape of terraces and garden spaces for community engagement and use.

“Together with a range of other modifications to the design, the need for a new planning application [was] required.”

Heritage watchdog Historic Environment Scotland (HES) previously raised concerns about the project, stating it at least wanted the building’s facade to be retained.

The design statement continues: “Following various exchanges of information between the planning authority and Historic Environment Scotland (HES), including an options appraisal for retaining the existing buildings, HES concluded: ‘In response to our letters and advice from your council, the applicant has now submitted further information on options for retention and additional information on previous marketing of the property.

“‘On balance, we now accept that the options for retaining the building have been adequately explored and found unviable.

“‘We therefore no longer object to this proposal.’”

The radio hub element is the result of a collaboration with Heartland FM, which launched in an expanded format this year following a merger with what was then Radio Earn and is now based in Crieff.

The council’s report of handling states: “This report recommends approval of the application as the development is considered to comply with the relevant provisions of the development plan and there are no material provisions which outweigh the development plan.”

It adds: “Conservation area consent and planning permission for a similar scheme have previously been granted on appeal.

“The current application includes revisions to the approved design and proposes an interim community use for the site prior to completion of the replacement development.”

The blueprint is said to align with the regeneration aims outlined in Crieff Community Trust’s community action plan and follows a feasibility assessment being carried out.