A Moray aviation group has secured its future for the next three years, after landing a rent-free deal at a former primary school.
Moray Council yesterday agreed to extend Morayvia’s lease of the former Abbeylands Primary School outside Kinloss – taking them step closer to creating an aerospace visitor centre.
The move gives the charity time to develop a detailed business case, which will be crucial if they plan to take control of the site on a permanent basis.
The venue recently became home to a famed Sea King search and rescue helicopter, after a public campaign helped bring the machine to the region.
Sea King helicopters were a fixture in the skies above the region for four decades until they were decommissioned in April, but one is now on permanent display at the former school.
Morayvia director, Bob Pountney, said the council decision was an important step towards its goal of creating a top tourist attraction for the area.
Mr Pountney said: “This gives us great peace of mind, as it means the work we have done at the site has all been worthwhile.
“We can now look forward to the next couple of years and getting the base up and running and open to the public.”
The council’s corporate director Mark Palmer outlined the work that had gone into the venture already.
He said: “Quite clearly, this group has a project they want to work on and realised they needed a property for that.
“This property was sitting idle and was deteriorating before Morayvia took it on.
“Since starting to use the facility they have improved it and its surrounding environment.”
Forres councillor Anne Skene added: “I recently attended the property and I was very impressed to see what Morayvia has achieved in quite a short space of time.
“It was a mess, and it no longer is, and the group has saved Moray Council a considerable amount of money with that.”
Elgin City South councillor Graham Leadbitter added: “Morayvia is clearly driven and committed to making this project work, and has generated a huge amount of interest in the aircraft they have on site.”
Over the October school holidays the base will open for a trial period.
The rent-free period was ultimately extended until November 30, 2018, on the basis that Morayvia pays for repairs and insurance.