SCOTRAIL, in partnership with national and local stakeholders, is studying to explore the redevelopment of the Blair Atholl station building.
The initiative is to repurpose the historic station building into socially rented housing.
The study is in partnership with Network Rail, Perth & Kinross Council, Friends of Blair Atholl Station, and the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership.
A feasibility study will address Stage 2 feasibility and design costs to support the proposed conversion of the building into three much-needed affordable residential units.
The successful redevelopment of Blair Atholl station would:
- Provide a long-term, sustainable use for the currently vacant building.
- Make a significant contribution to addressing the demand for affordable housing in the local area.
- Protect and preserve the historical and architectural heritage of the station.
Blair Atholl station, which opened in 1863, is on the Highland Mainline. Up to ten ScotRail services connect the village with Inverness, Glasgow, and Edinburgh daily, and the Caledonian Sleeper service also stops at the station.
The ground floor of the station building previously housed a ticket office and customer facilities; however, these were closed in the 1980s.
The upper floor, originally the stationmaster’s residence, was occupied by a third-party tenant until 2022, but today, the building is vacant.
David Lister, ScotRail safety, sustainability and asset director, said: “The redevelopment of Blair Atholl station is a fantastic opportunity to bring a historic railway building back into meaningful use.
“This project would not only preserve a key piece of railway heritage but would also support the local community with the proposal to provide much-needed affordable housing.
“We are proud to be working with our partners to explore the potential of this redevelopment.”
Dr Viv Cree, chair of the Friends of Blair Atholl Station Group, said: “The Friends of Blair Atholl Station are delighted to support the next stage of the work, which we hope will safeguard our much-loved station building and, at the same time, help to meet a pressing need in our community and in all rural areas across Scotland.
“We look forward to working with our partners to make this happen for the community.”
Tim Hedley-Jones, Railway Heritage Trust executive director, said: “The Railway Heritage Trust is pleased to support Scotland’s Railway to undertake a feasibility study for the Blair Atholl station building as a first step towards bringing it back into sustainable use.”
While capital funding for any redevelopment works is yet to be secured, the launch of the feasibility study represents a significant step forward in realising the project’s vision.
