A north-east port has landed a £1.2million grant to help boost its ailing town centre.
Fraserburgh is one of six historic communities across Scotland to benefit from the latest round of Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) announced yesterday.
Elsewhere, Argyll and Bute Council has been granted £990,000 to spend in Campbeltown.
Scottish Government agency Historic Scotland has already invested more than £33million in 50 projects across the country since 2007.
Aberdeenshire Council will be awarded £1.2million – spread over five years – to regenerate Fraserburgh’s town centre.
Chairman of Aberdeenshire Council’s policy and resources committee, Councillor Jim Gifford, said: “This funding is a great boost for Fraserburgh, which is a town of great historical significance to Scotland, and it will supplement the funding already allocated by the council and Heritage Lottery Fund for the town’s regeneration.
“Fraserburgh is undergoing dynamic changes that are creating a real sense of optimism in the town and we are looking forward to continuing to work with Historic Scotland to ensure the town’s built heritage gets the attention it deserves.”
The funding can be used to repair historic buildings or for small grants to homeowners and retailers as well as providing traditional craft training opportunities.
One spending priority will be the renovation of the 19th-century Townhouse, one of Fraserburgh’s most recognisable historic buildings.
Scottish Government Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “The Scottish Government is committed to investing in regeneration projects across the country and enabling people to improve their local area and look after their heritage, which is one of the priorities of the Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland – Our Place in Time.”
She added: “I look forward to hearing the impact the scheme has on all of today’s recipients in the coming months and years.”
Jane Ryder, the newly-appointed chairwoman of Historic Environment Scotland, said: “In 2014 a 10-year strategy for Scotland’s historic environment was created, with one of its founding ideas being that the historic environment is owned by the people of Scotland, and not by the government, so we should do everything in our power to enable the people to look after this environment.”
Historic Scotland announced £6.4million of investment yesterday.
New Lanark, Strathaven, Tranent and Coatbridge will benefit alongside Fraserburgh and Campbeltown.