A multi-million pound scheme to regenerate a north-east town centre will be launched this morning.
Aberdeenshire Council’s Fraserburgh 2021 project aims to drastically improve the port by offering grants to local businesses to improve their shop frontages and customer service with training opportunities.
It will also refurbish derelict buildings around the main shopping district, with plans already on the table to create a new-look front of house for council services in Fraserburgh’s former police station on Kirk Brae.
This morning, officers from the authority will detail the project in full for the first time at a launch event in the Dalrymple Hall from 9.30am.
A spokeswoman said: “We are particularly keen to promote the small grants scheme for property owners within the conservation area.
“The Fraserburgh 2021 Townscape and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme – or Cars Scheme – focuses on restoring and enhancing the built heritage of Fraserburgh’s town centre conservation area and forms a key part of the wider social and economic regeneration work in the town over the next four years.
“A significant sum – £5.8million pounds – will be invested in Fraserburgh over the lifetime of the Cars project.”
Project manager Ross McCleary said: “It’s extremely important that as many residents as possible attend the event to fully understand the opportunities the programme will create.
“For those in the conservation area there will be specialists on hand to answer questions and to provide information on grant funding for those who want to take advantage of the regeneration momentum.”
Cash for the project has been sourced by applications to Heritage Lottery, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Scottish Government.
It will cover the repairs programme for the town’s Saltoun Chambers and former police station in the heart of the port which has already proved controversial.
Fraserburgh’s community council has raised concerns previously about the design of the new office space, claiming that the rusted steel design to the rear of the building would be unwelcome.