North-east councillors have agreed to take over a fire-hit building to create a potential base for commercial development.
The John Trail book shop in Fraserburgh’s Mid Street has lain empty since it was badly damaged by a fire six years ago.
Companies claiming ownership of the premises have been dissolved.
The local authority is planning a £5million regeneration of the town centre and the former book store could become part of it.
Members of the Banff and Buchan area committee this morning approved the proposal to register council ownership of the site.
Fraserburgh councillor Ian Tait said: “I’m delighted of course o see progress being made on this building.
“But officers should not assume that this building would be transferred to a third party.”
Councillor Mark Findlater said: “It’s a proactive approach and I applaud the council for doing it.”
And Fraseburgh councillor Charles Buchan added: “It is an eyesore, and it is so significant – right in the middle of our town centre. Something has got to be done about it, the accomodation in Fraserburgh is dire.”
In a report to the committee, Stephen Archer, the council’s director of infrastructure services, said the John Trail building had been highlighted as a “priority project” by local people.
A recent survey of the property concluded that the unlisted building’s upper floors would be ideal as a bunkhouse or hotel, with a commercial premises on its ground floor.
“Further investigation into the feasibility of these proposals is now taking place,” Mr Archer added.
“At the current time, investigations have shown that no one owns the building and the only means whereby anyone can secure a title is that of recording a title in favour of themselves and following the steps set out in the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 2012.
“The registration period could take approximately a year, after which the title takes provisional effect for 10 years.”
It is believed that if the council is successful in acquiring the property, its development would be completed by the North East Scotland Preservation Trust.
It restores properties with historic or architectural significance which are not restorable by the usual commercial mechanisms.
Mr Archer said that it was “unlikely” another developer would come forward.
It is estimated the cost of revamping the building would be about £310,000.
Its previous owners, Ian and Jenny Thomson, had originally hoped to reopen the business after the blaze, which took four hours to bring under control and is believed to have been started by a faulty light fitting.