The future of a historic north-east building earmarked to play a key part in a groundbreaking scheme is in doubt.
A Buchan community is calling for action to secure the future of a historic B-listed building.
Sandford Lodge had been earmarked for a possible visitor centre to demonstrate a ground-breaking scheme at Peterhead power station.
But Shell and SSE’s pioneering carbon capture scheme has been shelved, after the UK government pulled the plug on a national fund for such projects.
Now the local community is calling on the landowners to consider new options for the future of Sandford Lodge, which was badly damaged in a fire last year.
Sam Coull, a member of Boddam and District Community Association, said: “Sandford Lodge belongs to SSE and if they want to do something for the village and the area, then they can put their hand into their deep pockets and fund something else for the village.
“It could be a stop by for tourists, or sell it as a going concern as a hotel. It would be a good location for a hotel because of the views over Sandford Bay and there’s a shortage of hotels in Peterhead.”
During a council meeting in the north-east town last year, representatives from Shell discussed the possibility of converting Sandford lodge into a visitor site as part of their “local benefits strategy”.
However a major fire in the early hours of August 8 last year devastated the derelict home. Six fire crews battled the flames for more than four hours although the power station was not at risk.
Last night a spokeswoman for SSE stressed the lodge was never a formal part of the carbon capture planning application.
She said: “Sandford Lodge has no involvement in the operation of Peterhead Power Station and was not part of the CCS planning application at the site. A decision has not been taken on the future of the building.”
A spokesman for Shell added that the collapse of the government’s CCS funding scheme means the company has no current involvement in the power station site and no further plans to develop Sandford Lodge.