A major scheme to convert historic sail-making workshops in a north-east fishing community into tourist accommodation is about to begin.
The £1.85million project to develop a small collection of buildings in Portsoy into luxury bunkhouses will begin next week after eight years of planning by the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT).
It will transform the properties, known as Back Green, into four-star accommodation for up to 25 people at a time.
The bunkhouses will be operated as a business by the Scottish Traditional Boat Festival (STBF), helping to bring money back into the community.
Marcus Humphrey, the chairman of NESPT, said the partnership with the boat festival, which takes place this weekend, had been “crucial” in bringing the buildings back into use.
“We acquired these wonderful, iconic buildings in 2007 and have been working tirelessly ever since to find a way of preserving them for future generations,” he said.
“Our partnership with STBF has been crucial in progressing the project and I am most grateful for their help and support.”
The project has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and the Coastal Communities Fund.
At a ground-breaking ceremony yesterday, Roger Goodyear, chairman of the STBF, said: “We have carried out considerable research to demonstrate that the bunkhouse will be a viable business providing much-needed accommodation for visitors and an income stream to help the viability of the two charitable trusts.
“The bunkhouse will also provide accommodation for participants on the residential boat building courses that we will be running at our new Boatshed facility nearing completion at the harbour.”
Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, added: “This is a landmark project in that it’s the first one in Scotland to be awarded a grant through our Heritage Enterprise programme, a programme which will help turn around the fortunes of many more neglected old buildings and help make them commercially viable.
“I am thrilled that the historic link these buildings had with the sea will not be lost as they will provide accommodation to people coming to Portsoy to learn boat-building skills.
“Their new lease of life will be a great improvement to the village’s conservation area and a welcome boost to its tourist economy.”