Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Historic Fittie fishing shed saved after locals fight plans to demolish it for a new Airbnb

One of the final Fittie tarry sheds has been spared the wrecking ball. Ben Hendry/DC Thomson
One of the final Fittie tarry sheds has been spared the wrecking ball. Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

A piece of Fittie’s fishing history has been saved after locals rose up against plans to replace it with an Airbnb.

The eye-catching storage hut, known as a “tarry shed”, is one of the last remaining in Aberdeen’s “village within a city”.

It was originally used to store nets and other fishing equipment when the community was built in the early 1800s.

The 200-year-old tarry sheds are a reminder of how Fittie used to be.

Why was one of the last Fittie tarry sheds at risk?

Its new owner argued that it was now in such a shoddy state that demolition was the only option.

Victoria Buchanan said knocking down the shack would create space for money-spinning visitor accommodation.

Her architects said: “It is difficult to justify the client spending money to repair a building which lacks potential.”

Here is how the replacement living space would have looked.

But neighbours in North Square refused to let the relic of a bygone age be destroyed without a fight.

‘Charm of Fittie will disappear’

Lee Gohil, who lives a few doors down from the shed, said the scheme risked the community’s quaint appeal.

He said: “I have lived here for over 25 years.

“The charm and nature of Fittie will start to disappear if we allow properties to become money making enterprises.”

Many people enjoy a stroll through Fittie, admiring its quirky features.

Why is Fittie so special?

Fittie was designed by architect John Smith in 1809, the same man responsible for Balmoral Castle.

The tarry sheds were originally built from driftwood and other material washed up on the tide.

It is one of Aberdeen’s most beloved conservation areas, with photo-snapping visitors a regular feature along its picturesque squares.

The Fittie tarry shed can be seen in this aerial view of the North Square from 1988, left of the Mission Hall.

But one resident feared that special status, bestowed upon Fittie in 1968, could be lost if the plans were approved.

Phyllis Lyon, in her letter of objection, said: “The council designates these areas to ensure their character and appearance is preserved and enhanced.

“This proposed demolition of the outbuilding at No 2 would have a hugely deleterious effect on the character and appearance of Footdee.

“It would threaten the very conservation area status of the whole village.”

Flattening one of the last Fittie tarry sheds would have had a “deleterious” effect on the community.

Neighbour opposes Airbnb idea

Phyllis has lived just yards away from the tarry shed for 40 years.

She added: “The ‘tarry shed’ under consideration is one of the few remaining
traditional wooden outbuildings in the area

“They were never intended to provide the likes of Airbnb, or vacation rentals, which trend is widely considered to reduce the amenity of a residential area, not improve it.”

North Square dates back to the early 1800s, though traces of its fishing roots are becoming more faint.

And she pleaded with the council to help preserve “our beautiful and well-loved ‘village within a city'” by rejecting the programme.

Sales pitch includes ‘potential refurbishment’ of tarry shed

Last month, our Planning Ahead roundup featured the proposal – and explained that the applicant already owns 2 North Square.

But now the cottage is up for sale for £210,000 with marketers advertising the “potential with the refurbishment of the tarry shed into a third bedroom”.

Still standing: The council has ruled out the plans.

That may soon have to change.

Fittie tarry shed a ‘unique example’

Aberdeen City Council’s planning department has this week quashed the tarry shed scheme.

Case officer Roy Brown said it being “one of the few surviving historic ‘tarry sheds’ in Footdee” and “a unique example of Scottish vernacular architecture” made it “worthy of retention”.

This video shows some other examples of Fittie tarry sheds:


Do you think the plans should have been approved? Let us know in our comments section below


He also said the owner had provided “insufficient evidence” to back up her claim that any repairs would affect its historic value, that such upgrades would be “economically unviable” or that there is no alternative to demolition.

This image of the tarry shed shows the 2 North Square cottage opposite it.

“The demolition is not required as part of a wider project that would contribute significantly to economic growth or wider community benefit,” he concluded.

You can see the plans here.

Conversation