Work is about to begin on the first stage of rebuilding the fire damaged Raasay House.

The Grade A Listed mansion house on the Isle of Raasay, Skye, was left a smoking ruin following a major fire which gutted the building in January of this year.

Now contractors are poised to begin stabilising the historic house in preparation for rebuilding it next year.

Raasay House, which was taken over by the local community in 2007, had been in the final stages of a £4.5m upgrade at the time of the blaze.

It was due to re-open in the spring providing upgraded facilities for its tenant Rassay Outdoor Centre and as a key community asset.

The project's funders were Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), The Big Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland. HIE has been working intensively with Raasay House Community Company (RHCC) since the fire to get the building back on track.

Last week the contract for works to 'make safe' and stabilise the building was let by HIE on behalf of the building's community owners RHCC.

-- Advertisement --

The cost of the work will be recouped from insurance policies held by both HIE and the contractor Rok which was finalising restoration works at the time of the fire.

David Westgarth chairman of RHCC said: "To see the house literally go up in flames in January was devastating for the whole of the Raasay community.

"To get the house so nearly fully restored in January was an enormous achievement for a small community and to see all that work destroyed overnight was a terrible setback.

"However there was no question of us being deterred from our original intention and with the help of HIE, we are now in a position to see work beginning on site again."

Robert Muir, HIE's area manager for the Skye, Wester Ross and Lochaber area commented: "Because of its historic status the ruin required a very detailed investigation into its condition and what options are feasible for its future.

"It is the community's wish to see it restored and because its outside façade remains largely intact, this will be possible.

"In fact, because of the qualities of modern materials the final job should provide a more sustainable, energy efficient premises than the one originally planned so there is a positive aspect to the situation we face."

Mr Westgarth said that a great deal of work still lies ahead. As well as making the building safe for future works, HIE's framework contractor is required to submit fresh plans for Listed Building Consent and planning permissions.

All work on the re-design of the house is being carried out in consultation with Historic Scotland, Building Control, Highland Council Planning and Environmental Health authorities.

Progress on 'making safe' the structure has been accelerated through agreement with the loss adjuster in advance of final agreement with insurance companies.

This is in order to meet the community's aspiration of re-entry to the building in late 2011, in time for the start of the 2012 summer season.

(GK/BMcC)