A specialist in transforming abandoned and derelict buildings into thriving businesses has joined the campaign to save a treasured Moray landmark.
Permission has been given for the Tennant Arms, which has stood in Lhanbryde since 1854, to be bulldozed to make way for a convenience store in the village.
However, campaigners are readying themselves to buy back the former pub should the plans to build a Co-op in its place fall through.
And now, Dave Hollings, a director of CMS (Cooperative and Mutual Society), has revealed the dilapidated building still has the potential to be a bustling business once again without the need to knock it down.
The firm helps communities organise local buy-outs to help bring empty structures back into use by setting up share schemes.
Mr Hollings, who is based in north-west England, was involved in the campaign that raised £2.5million to open the GlenWyvis distillery in Dingwall.
And now, the businessman believes the Tennant Arms has the potential to be among his future projects.
He said: “It’s still got potential to be a cafe, shop or restaurant attached to some hotel accommodation, which I understand is much-needed due to military expansion in the area.
“I’ve been up to speak to residents about it and see the building. Structurally, it appears to be sound, so it appears that it just needs refurbishment work.
Mr Hollings added that he would need to see inside the building before any negotiations could begin about buying the property, which is owned by developer Tahir Pervaiz.
The lat design consultant, Colin Keir, has pledged that the new building will be made to resemble the current Tennant Arms.
A petition to save the building gathered more than 250 signatures before Moray Council approved the plans to demolish it.
Gill Stewart, who led the protests, explained that residents were attempting to reach out to Mr Pervaiz to see if he would consider selling the former pub to them.
She said: “The big problem we have at the moment is that he doesn’t want to sell. We can’t do anything until then.
“We still think the building can be saved and want to use the support of Mr Hollings in any way we can to get it open again.”
