An ambitious project to rescue historic and derelict buildings in a north-east harbour town has been expanded to secure funds of £650,000.
The Peterhead Central Area Regeneration Scheme, known as Cars, aims to breathe new life into scores of rundown properties and make the town more attractive for businesses, house-hunters and visitors.
Aberdeenshire Council, which is spearheading the move, is in talks with property owners between the harbour and town centre.
Now local councillors have approved a modification of the plans to include a wider section of Peterhead’s conservation area.
The move is intended to signal the local authority’s long-term commitment to the scheme and will help safeguard crucial funding from Historic Scotland worth £650,000.
Last night, Peterhead North and Rattray councillor Fiona McRae said it was a step forward for the town.
“There are a number of locations close to the town centre which have become derelict and I very much hope that the scheme will see all of those sites being transformed,” she said.
“By widening the designation of the town-centre conservation area, this opens up the opportunity of funding to tackle some of these problem areas.”
Fellow councillor Anne Allan said: “This is a substantial sum which the council has been able to attract and I want to see it put to good use in the town.”
The £650,000 being offered by Historic Scotland is part of a £6million payout to several conservation and regeneration projects.
The money will be used to improve disused properties around Jamaica Street, James Street and elsewhere.
The project has also won the backing of the National Trust for Scotland’s Little Houses Scheme, which has started work on 18th-century homes in Threadneedle Street and St Andrew Street.
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