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Quarriers charity wants to give an Elgin town centre building a makeover

The latest Moray planning round-up also includes the potential transformation for former church hall and work at well-known Brodie Castle.

By Sean McAngus

December 22 2024, 5:00 pm

Elgin town centre building set for makeover. Image: Mhorvan Park/ Design team

Welcome to Planning Ahead – our weekly round-up of the latest proposals across Moray.

With Christmas fast approaching, focus remains on gift shopping, putting up decorations and organising festive events.

Why not have a rest from that by grabbing a cuppa and reading this week’s planning roundup.

Planning officials have approved work at Brodie Castle and the rebuilding of a home for the second time.

In Urquhart, a former church hall could be turned into a home.

And charity Quarriers wants to give an Elgin town centre building a makeover.

But first, we look at work at a Keith hotel.

SUBMITTED: New windows for Keith hotel

June Green has submitted plans to replace the windows at Grampian Hotel in Keith.

The hotel at 5 Regent Square has six bedrooms, a public bar, restaurant and function hall.

It comes after an inspection discovered all the existing sash and case windows were beyond repair.

SUBMITTED: Plans for Elgin town centre building

Property on Moss Street. Image: Sean McAngus/DC Thomson

Charity Quarriers wants to give an Elgin town centre building a makeover.

The commercial property is at 42 Moss Street.

What do Quarriers want to do to the building?

The social care charity owns a number of operational and investment properties across Scotland and England.

They have submitted plans to carry out internal alterations to this B listed building to better meet modern commercial use.

Proposed work includes adapting the layout to ensure the inclusive use of the building for all users.

There will be insulation improvements.

And where feasible, new services such as lighting and heating will be discreetly integrated into the space to avoid visual impact on historic features.

Charity bosses believe making the space more functionality and flexibility will ensure the building continues to be a valuable asset to the local community, while supporting its ongoing commercial viability.

SUBMITTED: Transformation of church hall

St Margaret’s Hall in Urquhart. Image: Church of Scotland

Doctor David Allen is looking to turn a former church hall into a three bedroom home.

Church of Scotland have had the St Margaret’s Hall in Urquhart on the market for offers over £105,000.

This sale is part of a nationwide drive to cut costs by selling buildings as congregations dwindle and fewer ministers are being trained.

Inside the hall. Image: Church of Scotland

The new owner is moving to the area from the central belt and wants the community spirit which exists in and around the village of Urquhart.

There will be no external changes other than rebuilding of former chimney stack at the rear of the building.

Meanwhile, the other changes will be internal.

APPROVED Rebuild of home for the second time after major blaze

Remains of Orton home after fire. — The home near Orton has been reduced to a shell. Image: David Mackay/DC Thomson

In June, we revealed Jim MacLeod wanted to rebuild his home for a second time after it was almost completely destroyed by a fire last year.

The Orton property was ravaged by a blaze that tore through the roof and ran out of control through the house.

The incident in May last year came just two years after Mr MacLeod was forced from his home between Rothes and Fochabers after his pipes burst in temperatures as low as -17C.

After years of painstaking repairs, he had finally been ready to move back into the property, which is the former station house, at the time of the fire.

Artist impression of restored Orton home. Image: Ramsay McMichael Consulting Limited

Drawings showed the floor plan of the building will be kept the same inside the building, which was built in the 19th Century.

Fixtures including windows, gutters and doors will be replaced with similar features.

Now planning officials have granted listed planning permission for the rebuild.

Another artist impression of restored Orton home. Image: Ramsay McMichael Consulting Limited

APPROVED: Work at Brodie Castle

Brodie Castle attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Now National Trust For Scotland bosses have been given permission to re-plaster the internal wall between the kitchen and corridor inside the tourist attraction.

The lower part of the wall was previously repaired with a damp proofing membrane and modern plaster which had only masked the dampness within the wall fabric.

However this has been removed.

Are you going to be submitting interesting plans? Get in touch at sean.mcangus@ajl.co.uk

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