Change of use for former Baxters Highland Village and big plans for Buckie museum and hotel

Welcome to our regular look at the latest planning applications lodged with and decided by Moray Council.

This week, soup giants Baxters are looking for the go ahead to transform their closed down visitors centre restaurant and shop into more storage space.

And plans are afoot to turn a former Buckie museum into a office for a windfarm firm.

And Moray planners have approved for cold holding fridge room coffin store and workshop at Buckie funeral directors.

Baxters Highland Village

Baxters in Fochabers is seeking to transform their closed visitors centre restaurant and shop into a storage and e-commerce space.

MacLeod & Jordan is representing the food giants in the application for the Baxters Highland Village.

In February 2021, Baxters confirmed it was set to axe its popular Highland Village cafe, shop and museum permanently due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The four-star attraction welcomed more than 200,000 visitors a year at its peak to the soup giant’s historic home in Fochabers.

At the time, the food manufacturer said the pandemic had “amplified challenges” for the hospitality and retail sectors – making the future of the site “untenable”.

Disused museum into offices

A former museum could be turned into an office for a windfarm firm.

The Buckie Drifter Maritime Heritage Centre, on the town’s Freuchny Road, has lain empty for 17 years.

It opened in 1994, telling the story of the fishing communities along the coast of the Moray Firth and the importance of the herring industry.

The Drifter closed its doors in 2005 following rising costs and dwindling visitor numbers.

Previous plans to breathe life into the building have included a music school and venue.

Now Corstorphine + Wright is representing Moray West Offshore Windfarm Limited in the application for the change of use of the building.

This office will provide space for the company’s construction team.

It will comprise open plan and cellular office space with canteen, showers, toilets and storage.

Serviced accommodation at Buckie hotel

Plans have been lodged to convert part of a Buckie hotel’s ground floor into serviced accommodation.

The operator is proposing the change of use at the Old Coach House Hotel at 28 High Street.

Mantell Ritchie is representing Rehman Mahmood in the application.

The hotel in the heart of the historic fishing town used to be a coaching inn.

In the past week, Moray Council has also determined some applications.

Tyre firm office extension

Extension and relocation of a office reception will go ahead at a Forres business.

IH Design represented GT Tyres Forres Limited in the application for 15 West Road, Forres.

The firm has been in business since 1977.

Fridge room, coffin store and workshop for funeral director

Plans to erect single-storey front and side extension to form a garage for a coffin store and workshop has been approved.

This will take place at William R Mair Funeral Directors in Buckie’s Newlands Lane.

LF Architecture Ltd represented Dignity Funeral Director.

The firm have provided funeral services for over 20 years.

Further planning applications can be viewed using Moray Council’s portal.

Spotted any plans you think we should know about? Get in touch at north@ajl.co.uk

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