Could a Highland Perthshire railway station help tackle the area's housing shortage?

ScotRail is working with a Highland community to turn its vacant railway station building into flats, to help tackle a shortage of affordable homes in the area.

The rail operator is leading a feasibility study exploring the potential redevelopment of the station building at Blair Atholl.

It was last used as a ticket office in the 1980s, and has been completely vacant for three years.

ScotRail has taken on proposals from local residents to transform the derelict building into three socially-rented flats.

Viv Cree, who chairs the Friends of Blair Atholl Station group, told STV News a lack of affordable housing is a “massive problem” in the area.

It is expected to cost a six-figure sum to turn the vacant station building into three socially-rented flats STV News

Viv Cree is chair of Friends of Blair Atholl Station - the group that brought the proposals to ScotRail — Viv Cree is chair of Friends of Blair Atholl Station – the group that brought the proposals to ScotRail STV News

She said: “We looked at other possibilities for the station in amongst our group and this seemed to be the one that really would secure the building for the future.”

“Not only is it really difficult to get accommodation for incoming workers, it’s also really difficult for people who grew up in the village to ever think that they might be able to afford to buy or live in a house in this area.

“If something comes up for sale in a village like ours, the people who buy it are likely to be people from the cities moving up for a better quality of life here, but that makes it really difficult for local people to be able to live here.”

ScotRail has pulled together a team of experts to explore potential renovation in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council, Network Rail and the Highland Mainline Community Rail Partnership.

ScotRail’s James Ledgerwood, who is leading on the project, said he is confident the expected cost could reach hundreds-of-thousands of pounds.

ScotRail's James Ledgerwood is leading the feasibility study to redevelop Blair Atholl station — ScotRail’s James Ledgerwood is leading the feasibility study to redevelop Blair Atholl station STV News

He said: “My ambition would be in two years, we see people living here in Blair Atholl station.

“Our ambition is for us to ideally be on site early-2026 and deliver the programme over the next 12 to 18 months.

“That’s all very much dependent on funding but we are confident that we can work with our partners to secure the funding we need to bring it to delivery.”