Aberdeenshire Council has granted planning permission for a replacement community hall.
The trustees of the Crathes Public Hall Trust first lodged plans in July for a new community facility, which will replace the current “cold” and “old” base for the village.
The trustees at the hall initially toyed with the idea of upgrading the building, but found the work would have cost almost as much as building one from scratch, estimated at around £650,000.
They enlisted the help of Jim Knowles to help with the fundraising drive after he spearheaded the campaign to help build Banchory Sports Village.
This week, full planning permission was granted for the venture, which means work can now begin on demolishing the current hall.
Planning documents stated: “The layout, siting and design of the proposed replacement hall is considered acceptable and provides an improved and more efficient community facility for the residents of Crathes and surrounding settlements.”
The current building was originally created in 1929 and has undergone refurbishment in the intervening decades.
Aberdeenshire Council has insisted that, prior to the hall being demolished, a photographic survey is carried out at the site.
They said: “[This is] to ensure that a historic record of the building is made for inclusion in the National Monuments Record for Scotland and in the local Sites and Monuments Record.”
The trustees hope to start construction in 2021.
