The north-east will benefit from a new £400,000 scheme which will bring derelict and vacant properties back into use.
Aberdeenshire Council’s property investment fund has been announced after it was agreed by councillors on the authority’s infrastructure services committee last week.
The fund is part of the SNP-led administration’s strategy for regeneration in Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Banff and Macduff.
Last night, Peterhead councillor Stuart Pratt said the scheme would help “kick-start” regeneration efforts for buildings that are no longer productive.
“Most of these will be privately-owned so this will very much be a co-operative approach where the council can perhaps provide the impetus through this scheme to start things moving,” he added.
Initially, grants of up to £10,000 will be awarded to property owners to carry out feasibility studies, architectural drawings or quantity surveying work.
Further awards of up to £100,000 will be available in phase two of the project for building and renovation works.
On Tuesday, councillors agreed to run the scheme for two years as a trial to demonstrate what is achievable and what is required to entice private and community developers to invest in their town centres.
Richard Thomson, co-leader of Aberdeenshire Council, has hailed the project.
Mr Thomson and co-leader Martin Kitts-Hayes announced a “fundamental commitment” to regenerate the north-east after they grabbed power from the rainbow leadership of the Aberdeenshire Alliance last year.
“Investing in our town centres is a priority for Aberdeenshire Council, and to achieve the best results we need to stimulate the local economy by encouraging private developers to invest in their properties,” Mr Thomson said.
“We hope this fund will reinvigorate these towns and kick-start a wider commitment by developers to work alongside the council to take steps which will support the local economy.”
The administration’s regeneration efforts have been criticised in the past week, however, with political opponents
suggesting work had slowed over the last two years.
“There is no delay to the implementation of the scheme and to suggest otherwise is not helpful,” a SNP spokesman said.