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Bid to turn Moray's empty shop units into homes


By Alistair Whitfield

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Moray Council is set to provide funds to turn empty town centre shops into living spaces.

The local authority will also look at passing on cash to turn large vacant retail premises into smaller units.

Discussions are taking place in the council on Monday as figures show there are now 66 empty retail premises across the major towns in Moray.

The former Clarks store in Elgin is just one of 66 empty town centre properties across Moray. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.
The former Clarks store in Elgin is just one of 66 empty town centre properties across Moray. Picture: Daniel Forsyth.

Of these 34 are in Elgin, while there are 12 in both Keith and Buckie, and four each in Forres and Lossiemouth.

In addition, 12 of the 66 empty retail units are classed as large, with six of them in Elgin, four in Forres and two in Keith.

Last year the Scottish Government made £1,233,000 available to encourage towns in Moray with more than 1000 residents to diversify and attract extra footfall.

Last month it added another £443,000 to that total.

Grants covering 25% of the cost – and up to a maximum of £50,000 – will be available for turning units into residential accommodation.

The intervention rate will be 50% for dividing up a large unit in smaller sections – again with a cap of £50,000.

A report outlining the issues to be discussed on Monday has been prepared by Reni Milburn, Moray Council's economic growth and regeneration manager.

She concludes it by stating: "The Scottish Government recent investment into the capital regeneration provides Moray with an additional allocation of £443,000 to the existing £1.23 million Town Centre Fund.

"It provides much needed opportunity to stimulate and support place-based economic investment, which encourages town centres to diversify, become successful and sustainable."


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