A regeneration scheme to transform a north-east community could be set in motion next week.
Banff and Buchan area committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the strategy and members have been asked to give their backing to Aberdeenshire Council’s vision for Banff.
The local authority wants a complete renovation of the town centre by upgrading links to and from Bridge Street and creating a new housing scheme on disused industrial land.
The proposals, which are in their early stages, have been compiled by Aberdeen consultancy firm Halliday Fraser Munro.
Local people have welcomed the proposals.
One shop owner near Bridge Street, who did not want to give his name, said the town needed “something” to help traders.
He added: “A lot of folk go to Elgin or Fraserburgh for their shopping at the moment.
“Hopefully, it would prevent that, although a lot of folk would still go to Elgin and Fraserburgh, because they have big supermarkets that are cheaper.
“I think that unless that changed, and something like an Aldi opened here, it will still be hard to keep folk here.”
Local woman, Judith Smit, added: “We need more local shops – in hand with a supermarket. Why are the towns in England lively and active, and in Scotland we see boarded-up shops?
“Nostalgia is fine, but we need to modernise too.”
Stephen Archer, the council’s director of infrastructure services, will present a report on the scheme to local councillors on Tuesday.
In it, he has confirmed their backing will allow the authority to begin costing the project and consulting with stakeholders about how the plan is moved forward.
He stated: “This represents a positive approach to redevelopment in this area.
“It also identifies measures to improve the street scene and connectivity of Bridge Street in order to increase the footfall on the street.”
Halliday Fraser Munro have argued the success of the project “relies heavily” on it creating a focal point within the town.
As part of the regeneration strategy, land for new housing has been earmarked adjacent to Church Street at the site of a former granite works.
Its redevelopment could include flats, restaurants and cafes, leisure facilities and offices for local and new businesses.
