WORK is due to start on the fire-ravaged St Leonard's Hotel in Stonehaven, developers have said.
Kirkwood Homes Ltd say that work will start to remove the fire damaged areas of the building on March 1, after flames tore through the former hotel in late December.
The works will comply with a Dangerous Buildings Notice served on the developers
by Aberdeenshire Council and will include removing the roof from the original stone structure, demolishing the glasshouse and stripping out the floors, ceilings and internal walls. The existing stone walls will remain and extensions to the original stone structure will be untouched.
Knight Frank has submitted a planning application on behalf of Kirkwood Homes Ltd, to convert and refurbish the former hotel into 14 new apartments and eight townhouses. However, the developers are keen to stress that works taking place will only address the areas identified within the Dangerous Buildings Notice.
The remedial work is expected to be completed in April 2010 and JG Fowlie will be the demolition contractor.
Allan Rae, of Knight Frank said: "Kirkwood Homes Ltd will be working closely with JG Fowlie to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to comply with the Dangerous Buildings Notice.
"This work will protect the integrity of the structure and retain its suitability for conversion as part of the current development proposals being considered by Aberdeenshire Council. I would stress that this work will be the minimum necessary to address the fire damage."
He added: "Discussions on plans to transform the derelict site into a high quality residential development are continuing and we will liaise closely with Aberdeenshire Council to keep the local community in Stonehaven advised of further developments."
Chairman of Stonehaven Community Council, David Fleming said: "I am glad the owners are being responsible and making sure the building is as safe as can be in the current circumstances."
Kirkwood Homes' plans for the re-development of the hotel has so far proved controversial, with planning applications for the partial demolition of the hotel, as well as the flats and apartments, receiving over 50 letters of objection when they were submitted earlier this year.
Objections have focused on the overdevelopment of such a prominent site, conservation area policy, traffic issues and the loss of another of Stonehaven's hotels.
