Sunday Herald

After decades of arguments and a power struggle between architects, the Catholic church and Historic Scotland, it seems a solution may finally be at hand for the controversial St Peter's seminary site. After a sometimes bitter wrangle between Scotland's artistic community, who claim the A-listed former seminary is an architectural gem, and the church, which owns the run-down buildings and wants to redevelop the site, all parties have come together to appoint an independent surveyor who will recommend what course to take. Specialist firm Avanti Architects has a six-month, £70,000 contract to appraise St Peter's, near Cardross, and report to the Archdiocese of Glasgow, Argyll and Bute council and Historic Scotland this year. Avanti is renowned for its conservation work on modernist buildings. It will have to decide whether developing land around the building would meet the costs of complete or partial preservation of the decaying concrete structure. A spokesman for the archdiocese of Glasgow said the assessment would allow for consensus and "set out what will be required to meaningfully maintain the consolidated structure."