Argyll and Bute Council has secured two accolades at the National Empty Homes Awards 2017.

The local authority won the Best Before and After Photos category for its restoration of 50/52 Main Street and 2 Cross Street in Campbeltown.

In addition, the project was commended in the innovation category – which recognises creative and original projects demonstrating value in helping bring long-term empty homes back into use.

The scheme was carried out as part of the wider Townscape Heritage Initiative. Two commercial units and four flats of the category B-listed building are now fully occupied with a nail and beauty business.

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The council's Head of Economic Development, Fergus Murray, said: "A lot of hard work has gone into this project and it is pleasing to see our officers as well as our partners Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Environment Scotland being recognised at such a prestigious national event.

"As a council, we are focussed on boosting the local economy, creating jobs and attracting people to live and work in Argyll and Bute. This project has been a great success and absolutely complements the developments in Campbeltown town centre."

David Gibbens, Policy Lead for the Empty Homes Network, added: "This was clearly a challenging and complex project. It needed an innovative approach with several partners to bring back into use a building which had been empty for many years and with the complexity of mixed uses.

"There are so many benefits to the community once its potential had been unlocked. By documenting both the challenge and the successful outcome, the before-and-after photos tell a compelling story which will be an inspiration to others faced by similar problems up and down the country."

(LM)