Aberdeenshire Council has put a number of properties in Peterhead up for sale.

The move follows the development of new office accommodation on St Peter Street, which has led to a number of buildings becoming surplus to requirement.

Aberdeenshire Council is working with Shepherd Chartered Surveyors to market the properties.

One of the properties is the historic and current Buchan Area Office at Arbuthnot House on Broad Street

"The council's focus is on securing the right use for the site and is keen to consider other proposed uses which will be positive for the town centre," a statement said.

The council is also marketing a property next to Arbuthnot House – 60 Broad Street. An adjacent property at 18 James Street is also being marketed.

A property at 53 Windmill Street will shortly be marketed, along with the adjacent Glenugie Business Centre.

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Additional properties at 52 and 54 Broad Street are expected to be brought to the market in the coming months.

Aberdeenshire Council's Head of Property, Allan Whyte, said: "Given the prominence of some of these properties, and their collective scale, we are very keen to find the right occupants to help contribute to the town's future vitality. We have already had some interest in those already on the market, but we'd like to generate as much as possible, from as far afield as possible.

"The amount generated by sales or rents isn't necessarily the top priority, but finding appropriate uses for these prominent properties is. Cost may be negotiable dependent on the intended use for the properties – one of our main considerations is what the new occupant will bring to the town."

Aberdeenshire Council's Head of Economic Development, Belinda Miller, added: "The last the council wants is to move out of these properties and leave them empty to the detriment of Peterhead town centre. We are not afraid to consider aspirational uses for the buildings being marketed and it's possible a local community group might be able to make as significant an impact as any business could, dependent on the use proposed.

"Peterhead has always had a strong local economy and there are many nationally and internationally successful businesses operating from here – we hope to attract more and are ready to offer support wherever we can."

The council expects to release eight buildings in total, linked to the construction of the £5m area headquarters. It is estimate that the move will save about £378,000 a year on running costs of both owned and leased properties.

(IT/JP)