Plans to create a conservation area in the heart of Fraserburgh took a step forward yesterday as councillors backed bids for £5million of funding.
Members of the local authority’s policy committee agreed to submit applications to Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund for the necessary works.
If successful, Aberdeenshire Council expects work to protect the heritage and character of the town to start in spring next year and be completed by March 2021.
Speaking at yesterday’s meeting at Woodhill House, deputy council leader Martin Kitts-Hayes said: “This administration has made a fundamental commitment to regeneration in Fraserburgh and the north of Aberdeenshire.”
Stephen Archer, the council’s director of infrastructure services, added: “This will be a very successful story going forward.”
The scheme will class Fraserburgh’s town centre as a conservation area and it is hoped the move will allow business owners to access grants to improve their buildings.
Aberdeenshire Council has estimated that it will need to set aside £1million for the scheme.
In order to make up a £550,000 shortfall, money previously set aside for projects could now be pooled together.
In a report to the committee, Mr Archer said: “A number of possibilities have been investigated. These are that £300,000 from the regeneration reserve budget and £50,000 from the regeneration budget are set against the bids.”
A £165,000 project to upgrade the town’s Saltoun Chambers, which is in its early stages, may also be brought under the wider conservation area plans.
Fraserburgh councillor Charles Buchan, who has campaigned to have the zone created, said: “I’m delighted that this project is going ahead.
“This will help to give a much needed lift to the town centre, as there is a good possibility that outside grant money from Historic Scotland, and the National Lottery, will be available to give businesses up to 75% grants, on top of the existing council funding for regeneration.
“Fraserburgh has a number of very important buildings in terms of their architectural merit and if this can be used to lever-in more regeneration funding to support this aspect of our built heritage and further bring the town centre up to standard then I fully support it.”