Business and community leaders will gather in Fraserburgh next week to discuss how to rescue vacant and derelict buildings in the north-east’s ailing town centres.
The second annual Aberdeenshire Town Conference, organised by the local authority, is being held at the town’s leisure centre on Friday.
The focus of the talks is how to bring empty properties back into use to help regenerate the hearts of Fraserburgh, Peterhead, Banff and Macduff.
The free event will allow anyone with an interest in property and investment to come together and hear from a range of keynote speakers expert in their fields.
During the conference, council regeneration and town centres manager Christine Webster will launch the authority’s new property investment fund.
Open to investors and property owners in the four towns, the aim is to kick start the rejuvenation of the shopping districts.
Diarmaid Lawlor, from Architect and Design Scotland, will be on hand to discuss town centre planning, while historic architect Tom Duff will explain the impact of listed buildings and conservation areas.
Local social enterprise Elevator, which supports entrepreneurs and employees, is one of the organisers of the event.
Last night chief executive Gary McEwan said that during the North Sea downturn entrepreneurial spirit is more important than ever.
“Despite the current challenge, our region remains the most entrepreneurial part of Scotland,” he said. “We are showing continued growth in the numbers of businesses starting and growing.
“With unparalleled resilience, the people of the north-east continue to show that entrepreneurship is in our blood.
“We must now dig deep, face up to the challenges, innovate, diversify and prepare for the bright future we have before us.”
Earlier this year Aberdeenshire Council backed plans to set aside £400,000 for a derelict property investment fund.
Through the fund, grants of up to £10,000 – or 50% of the cost – will be awarded to property owners to carry out feasibility studies, surveys or architectural drawings of the work they want done.
Up to £100,000 could then be awarded for actual renovation works.
The conference will run from 10am-2pm at Fraserburgh leisure centre on Friday. For more information, e-mail audrey.michie@aberdeenshire.gov.uk