Work to convert the former John Trail Bookshop on Mid Street in Fraserburgh into a hotel has started today (Monday, 29 June). Work had been due to start in late March but was postponed due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The project is being led by the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) and grant funding is being provided by the Fraserburgh 2021 Priority Grant Scheme (This is a partnership between Aberdeenshire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland), the Aberdeenshire Town Centre Fund, and the Aberdeenshire Council Regeneration Programme. The project is expected to take between 12 and 15 months to complete.

The NESPT has appointed local company V G Willox Ltd as Main Contractor and the design team is being led by EK:JN Architects. The contractor will be following the Construction Scotland Restart Plan and strict health and safety procedures will be in place including physical distancing, hand hygiene, and other critical behaviours to ensure public and workforce confidence.

To ensure the safety of the public and to allow the workforce to carry out their work in a safe environment the pavement outside the building will be closed while the scaffolding is in place and the Mid Street Car Park will also be closed. We apologise for any inconvenience this might cause and restrictions will only be in place as long as strictly necessary.

The Chairman of the NESPT, Marcus Humphrey, said “We are delighted to see this project get underway after the delay caused by lockdown. Given the current situation it is particularly important to see a large project like this begin and to bring economic benefit to the local economy.”

Councillor Peter Argyle, chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, said: “I am delighted to hear that work on the John Trail building will begin on June 29. The council has provided significant funding for this scheme which, together with our own continuing regeneration activities, will help breathe new life into the town centre of Fraserburgh.”