Moray conversion works nominated for planning awards
Two high quality conversion projects overseen by Moray Council have been shortlisted for this year’s Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning.
The £2.5million redevelopment of an A-listed farm steading at Altyre Estate, near Forres, has resulted in the creation of a new campus for the Glasgow School of Art.
Meanwhile in Elgin, one of the traditional town centre pends has been revitalised with the conversion of six empty cottages into modern family homes.
The Blairs steading at Altyre dates from the 1830s and comprises a series of Italian-style buildings which had lain disused for many years.
The three largest buildings have been transformed into a 10,000sq ft studio and exhibition space as well as teaching and workshop areas.
The 19th century C-listed cottages at 211 High Street are within the town centre conservation area and had been vacant for some time.
They have been renovated by the locally based Robertson Group with support from the Elgin Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme.
The terraced cottages represent one of Elgin’s historic pends – or closes – which run at 90 degrees off the High Street and which remain a distinctive feature of the town’s built heritage.
Councillor Claire Feaver, who chairs Moray Council’s planning and regulatory services committee, said she was delighted that the projects had been shortlisted for the prestigious planning quality awards.
“Until very recently both the steading and the cottages had stood vacant and seemingly without a future. Now both have been restored and transformed, with the cottages reverting to the purpose for which they were first built and the steading to an exciting new creative campus far removed from its original purpose.”
Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.
Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.
Headquartered in Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.