Aberdeenshire Council has pledged £10,000 to breath new life into a 500-year old local landmark.
Kincardine and Mearns councillors yesterday backed the decision to fund a feasibility study at the Mill of Benholm, near Johnshaven.
The A-listed building was run as a cafe until last year, when a number of health and safety concerns were uncovered in the facility’s kitchen and it was forced to close.
Though owned by the local authority, the mill had been run by the Mill of Benholm Trust, which provided work experience and training to adults with special needs.
The Friends of Benholm group have been participating in community engagement events to explore what the facility could offer locals.
The feasibility study will commence in partnership with the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) and will research any repairs required at the mill and options of future use.
This includes reopening the site as a cafe or turning it into a heritage centre or craft workshop.
Stonehaven and District councillor Peter Bellarby said: “I think the proposals here are very welcomed. Benholm is a real asset to the area, we need to sort out the problem there and make sure it has a real viable future.”
Mearns councillor George Carr added: “The most important thing here would be to see a business plan worked up.”
The committee also agreed to hand over £25,000 towards community engagement and promotion in St Cyrus.