A new £5.8 million town regeneration scheme is to be launched next week in Aberdeenshire.

Fraserburgh 2021 is a Townscape Heritage and Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) which focuses on restoring and enhancing the town.

Features include a repair programme for priority buildings, a small grants scheme for property owners within the new conservation area, training and education opportunities in traditional skills and public realm improvements.

The initiative will be formally launched by Aberdeenshire Provost Hamish Vernal in the town's Dalrymple Hall on Saturday, 11 March.

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The event will include a guided tour of the Conservation Area by members of the Fraserburgh Heritage Centre and a talk by Chartered Architect and Heritage Consultant, Andrew Wright.

Fraserburgh 2021 Project Manager, Ross McCleary, said: "It's extremely important that as many residents as possible attend the event to fully understand the opportunities the programme will create.

"For those in the Conservation Area itself, there will be specialists on hand to answer questions and to provide information on grant funding for those who want to take advantage of the regeneration momentum."

Regeneration Manager, Christine Webster, added: "Regeneration is about people, it's about improving skills to align with new types of employment; developing new ways of working and up-skilling, and, of course, carrying out refurbishment of properties – as is imminent at the Council Chambers in Saltoun Square – but addressing the built environment alone is only one part of the story.

"We all have a part to play. Community groups, charitable organisations, businesses, property owners and schools are all important in the delivery of regeneration projects."

(LM/MH)