Work to restore an Aberdeenshire mansion to its former glory is taking shape.
The B-listed Ury House, at Stonehaven, is being brought back from ruin as part of a wider redevelopment of the estate.
A new structural frame and floors have been installed, and lead work on the roof is now underway. The building is now almost wind and water tight.
Developers FM Group – who hope to bring a golf course designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus to the estate – have completed the work to make the structure sound.
Tomorrow the team will find out if they have been granted planning permission for the golf course – which has been recommended for refusal amid concerns about the impact it would have on nearby Slicewells Wood. However, local councillors have already thrown their weight behind the scheme, which they believe could be “something really special” for the area.
Jonathon Milne, director of FM Group, said: “We are pleased and proud to see the project reach this significant milestone.
“As with any development of this scale, there have been issues raised by statutory consultees, but we have worked very hard to overcome these and all but one has been lifted.
“The main stumbling block is over the issue of ancient woodland.
“We fully appreciate that our proposals will result in a loss of some woodland but we have mitigated the impact as far as
possible.”
“We propose to sustainably manage and retain 134 acres of ancient woodland, removing only younger trees and areas of woodland comprising gorse and bracken.
“In total, we plan on planting 10 times the number of trees that are felled around the golf course and housing development.”
