by admin | Oct 7, 2025 | Latest News
PROPOSED LAYOUTS
Click on the images below to view enlarged proposed layouts and elevations
Proposed Housing Elevations
Proposed Housing Elevations2
Proposed Housing First Floor Plan
Proposed Housing Ground Floor Plan
Proposed Housing Second Floor Plan
Proposed Leanchoil Layout
Proposed supported Housing Elevations
by admin | May 12, 2025 | Latest News
Leanchoil Update
This newsletter is slightly later than normal as the Leanchoil Trust was keen to pay tribute to Jo Lenihan, our Development Officer, who retired at the end of April. While saluting Jo with all best wishes for her retirement and thanks for the fantastic work she has done for LT, we also welcome her replacement, Nigel Tiddy. Nigel has taken up post and will continue to establish new community links, funding streams and other factors that will ensure the continued progress of the Leanchoil project.
One of the key points of progress is that we have a good idea of the internal layout of the main Leanchoil centre. Meetings with architects LDN have resulted in a sound, flexible plan that enables us to estimate the opportunities for using and renting the rooms so that needs can be met of the many community groups who have expressed interest in locating their meetings at Leanchoil.
On the point of sustaining the Leanchoil centre in the future, we are most grateful to the Berryburn Community Fund who enabled us to commission a feasibility study on future development of the former Nurses’ Home. This beautiful building at the rear of the Leanchoil site will be refurbished as a separate, integrated project and the plan is to consider commercial uses such as key worker accommodation. We await the final feasibility report and will share information with you when it is available.
A further important piece of news is that it is now possible for you to make financial contributions to support Leanchoil. We are finalising the details of accepting donations through the website and at public events where LT will have a presence, for example at the Forres Highland Games on 5th July.
We anticipate the planning application for Leanchoil to be submitted to Moray Council in July and believe that our purchase of the site should be completed in the near future. Then the fun really begins!
With thanks, as always, for your support.
Marianne Nicolson
Chair, Leanchoil Trust
by admin | May 7, 2025 | Latest News
Our recently published fund-raising prospectus is now available here. It details our fund-raising to date, and our target for bridging the financial gap that will trigger match-funding from institutional supporters. Should you be interested in becoming a donor, please contact us at info@leanchoiltrust.org and a Trustee will be in touch.
by admin | Jan 25, 2025 | Latest News
Leanchoil Update
Here we are already half way through January, and on behalf of the Leanchoil Trust Board members I hope that 2025 is going well for you. The past two months have seen good progress in that we have had a very positive pre-planning opinion from Moray Council that facilitates our onward march to full planning application. There are many surveys that are required before then, and work is ongoing in that regard.
Last week we had confirmation that Hanover Scotland has agreed terms with Robertson Property for progression to the next stage of planning for rebuilding the old maternity unit. Again, the background work has been substantial and the importance of our partners’ confidence is most encouraging.
We are continuing discussions with the Scottish Ambulance Service, Forres Health Centre, STEM and others to plan the interior of the main Leanchoil building, assisting architects LDN to produce a draft of rooms and specialist spaces that are required. While focusing on the main building and Hanover’s supported living section, we are grateful for financial support received from Berry Burn Community Fund for a feasibility report on development of the old Nurses’ Home.
We really hope that the momentum can be maintained. There has been significant deterioration to the interiors of Leanchoil, which is to be expected given the time that has elapsed since the hospital was closed. The Leanchoil Trust website will keep you informed of progress between newsletters, and we look forward to seeing all of you at a further public engagement event in the Spring.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
With warm regards,
Marianne Nicolson
Chair, Leanchoil Trust
by admin | Oct 17, 2024 | Latest News
Moves to re-purpose a former hospital into a community hub for health and wellbeing has reached a major milestone.
Described as a ‘trailblazer’ for similar projects across the UK, draft plans for the conversion of the former Leanchoil hospital in Forres have been prepared as part of a pre-planning submission. A detailed planning application is expected to be submitted to Moray Council later this year.
Leanchoil trustees and Inverness-based architects LDN have been developing site plans to turn the listed building into a wide-ranging facility for the local community. The unique building and grounds will offer activities and services to support wellbeing, social engagement, volunteering, employment and learning for all ages, bringing long-lasting benefits to the people of Forres and its rural communities.
Plans include space for health and wellbeing facilities, a café, a STEM classroom for early years children, an immersive/interactive suite, and a digital health support facility. In addition, the Scottish Ambulance Service station will remain on site.
Development proposals include the construction of a 38-unit building on the site of the former maternity wing by project partners Hanover Scotland. The new building will provide supported accommodation for older people and those of all ages with additional needs.
Chair of the Leanchoil trustees, Marianne Nicolson, said agreeing the draft proposals at a meeting this week was a big day for the trust and its supporters.
“Getting to this stage means we are making tangible progress towards our goal,” she said.
“There is still a long way to go and we’ll need a big injection of cash – about £4million – to realise the final vision we have for Leanchoil. However, this shows we’re on our way. The recent withdrawal of Erskine Veterans Charity from the project means we now have more space and can better mould the premises to the needs of the local area, which is reflected in our latest plans.
“I believe this project will become a trailblazer across the UK for re-purposing large redundant buildings for community use.”
The project has secured funding so far from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and Scottish Land Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Berry Burn Community Fund, and Crown Estates.
Leanchoil Hospital was built in 1892 with funding from the Forres-born businessman and philanthropist Lord Strathcona and local subscriptions. The quality of the original construction means the building is structurally in generally excellent condition, giving more options for the re-purposing of the interior.
Should planning consent be agreed contracts would then be finalised and work could start on site in the spring of 2026.
