“The Trustees of Leanchoil have had to put the future plans for Leanchoil on hold. This is because Erskine, the major anchor tenant, has had to stop work on all future projects until the way forward can be seen through Covid-19. Erskine hope to be able to renew their firm interest in Leanchoil sometime in the future.
“The Leanchoil Trust has been giving further consideration to other options for the use of other parts of the site including local health and well-being services and accommodation in accordance with the wishes of the local community. The Trust will continue these efforts within the limitations of the Covid-19 situation.
“The Trust has had extremely positive discussions with NHS Grampian despite their current priorities.
“However, the implications of Erskine’s position and of Covid-19 generally mean that the Community Asset Transfer process will have to be put on hold.
“The Leanchoil Trust is obviously disappointed by Erskine’s situation which has been forced upon them by the Covid-19 virus situation and wishes them well at this difficult time.
“The Trustees wish to thank everyone in the community for the tremendous support and enthusiasm that has been given to the project so far.
“The Trustees will keep everyone informed of future progress”
MORAY’s MSP has thrown his weight behind the Leanchoil Hospital project which aims to breathe new life into the former hospital.
Richard Lochhead visited Leanchoil Hospital in Forres with trustees to see how they envisage the building can be redeveloped.
It is hoped that the historic building will be transformed into a veterans’ activity centre which will be run by armed forces charity Erskine and a well-being hub for the community.
And the Leanchoil Trust is currently in talks with NHS Grampian about a community asset transfer of the site following a recent valuation.
Following the visit, Mr Lochhead said he is happy to lend his support to the project.
Heritage
He said: “I congratulate the trustees for all their hard work as they strive to take forward their ambitious and welcome vision for Leanchoil. The former hospital is an important part of the area’s heritage and the impressive buildings hold many memories for the local community and are a local treasure. It is therefore heartening to know the plans to breathe new life into Leanchoil are making good progress.
“I found the tour and briefing enormously valuable and it is easy to imagine how the site could be turned into something special and how new services for the community could be delivered from there following refurbishment. If Erskine were to choose Leanchoil as their first base outside of the central belt for a veteran’s activity centre this would be superb for Forres and help boost the town’s profile and it would also be such a good fit with the needs of Moray given that we have a large veterans population.
Support
“I will certainly be lending my support to the project and am speaking to NHS Grampian to press for a smooth and timely community asset transfer. I have also pledged to work with the trustees and community to see what can be done to secure funding for the site’s redevelopment and I will also be speaking to relevant Scottish Government colleagues to let them know about these exciting plans.”
Major General Seymour Monro, one of six trustees involved in the redeveloped said: “Mr Lochhead spent a good hour with us at the former Leanchoil Hospital and seem enthused by the plans ahead.
“We were delighted to be able to show him around the main building where it is hoped Erskine would base themselves should our ambitious plans go ahead. Having Mr Lochhead visit, was a real boost to us as trustees and hearing his positive comments and his intention to support the project going forward will only go toward helping us on our way to developing a sensational hub for veterans and the community of Forres and beyond.”
Earlier this month (Feb 5), over 100 people attended a public briefing about the future of the site where they also took part in an important community impact assessment which will be used to secure funds to take the project forward.
Over 100 people have attended a public briefing about the future of Leanchoil, one of Forres’ most historic buildings.
Members of the soon to be formed Leanchoil Trust which aims to redevelop the former Leanchoil Hospital have said they are thrilled with the response.
The briefing provided attendees with an update on plans for the hospital and they also took part in an important community impact assessment which will be used to secure funds to take the project forward.
The initiative to ensure the future of Leanchoil Hospital which stands in extensive grounds off St Leonard’s Road in Forres has been led by Forres Community Council.
It is hoped that the former hospital will be transformed into a veterans’ activity centre and well-being hub for the community.
Talks are progressing positively with veterans’ charity Erskine who are keen to use the main hospital building which would become their first facility outside of the central belt.
Negotiations
Negotiations are also underway with NHS Grampianabout a community asset transfer of the site following a recent valuation.
Graham Hilditch, chairman of the community council and a founding member of The Leanchoil Trust said: “”It was very encouraging to see so many of the local community come out on a February evening to support the Leanchoil project. It has taken us nearly two years of effort to get to this point, but with the public behind us, I am sure that we can deliver an innovative health and well-being hub for the local people.”
He added: “With the support of Erskine, we can confidently look forward to the next phase of the project, where we can address the wellbeing needs of the local community. The next few months will be crucial to the success of the project. With local community support and a strong business plan, we can confidently apply for a Community Asset Transfer from NHS Grampian and apply to the Scottish Land Fund to fund the purchase of the site. By Spring, we will have a clear picture of the long term future of the project.”
Incredible turnout
Major General Seymour Monro, who is working alongside Graham and four other trustees on the project echoed Graham’s thoughts on the night: “I thought the turnout was incredible and demonstrates the very real interest the local community has in the future of Leanchoil. I was also very encouraged that everyone was impressed with our plans for Leanchoil and particularly for the major involvement of Erskine. I am sure that the Community Impact Assessment will reflect that and I am equally sure there will be some good ideas for us to digest.
He added: This is a great project and it will be a success from which Forres and the surrounding area will benefit. Leanchoil, our former cottage hospital, will once again be a centre for health and wellbeing.”
A PUBLIC briefing on the future of one of the town’s most historic buildings is to be held next month.Members of the public are being urged to attend the event which will give a full update on the future of Leanchoil Hospital.
The initiative has been led by Forres Community Council, who raised funds to commission LDN Architects to hold a public consultation and options appraisal in 2019.
At the latest meeting which will be held on February 5, representatives from the soon to be formed Leanchoil Trust will provide an update and attendees will also be asked to partake in a community impact assessment.
Talks are progressing positively with veterans’ charity Erskine who are keen to use the main hospital building as a Veterans’ Activity Centre, the business plan being managed by Community Enterprise is well underway and the Leanchoil Trust is in talks with NHS Grampian about a community asset transfer following a recent valuation of the site.
Major General Seymour Monro, of the current working group said things are moving at pace: “Over the last few weeks great headway has been made regarding the future of the former Leanchoil Hospital. We had delegates from Erskine visit the site for a second time in January and they were very encouraged by what they saw and the condition of the building. In fact, they are so enthused by the building’s potential that they have agreed to match fund some of the initial costs for the main building refurbishment which adds huge credibility to this project.”
Major General Monro added: “We also now have a valuation of the site and discussions with NHS Grampian about a Community Asset Transfer are ongoing. If this goes ahead it will be ground-breaking as it will be the first time the NHS Grampian has been involved in a community asset transfer.”
He added: “In addition to Erskine’s involvement, we are in discussion with Health & Social Care Moray & NHS Grampian about delivering health and wellbeing for the community in the refurbishment. This would be really innovative. This is why it is so important that people attend the meeting, so they can hear in full what the project is all about and how it will benefit not just Forres and its people, but potentially the wider community as well.”
At the meeting, a community impact assessment will be launched which will be facilitated by the team at the Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) and TSI Moray. The results of the assessment will be used to inform the Scottish Land Funds Stage 2 application which will go towards the purchase of the Leanchoil site from NHS Grampian.
Debbie Herron, development manager with FACT explained: “It’s really important that people from the area come along to the meeting as this is a further opportunity for them to have their say on the future of Leanchoil. It will be a really interactive meeting and session and all we are asking the attendees are three simple questions which will help us move the project forward.”
Forres Community Council chairman Graham Hilditch who is a member of the Leanchoil Trust explained: “In order to progress the community asset transfer, we have had to follow all of these processes. The key point which came from the public consultation was that the preferred option for the future of Leanchoil is for it to maintain its historical nature of providing health and well-being services for the community. We are very encouraged by the developments in the last few weeks and we very much look forward to sharing all of the updates at the briefing.” The Public Briefing will take place in Forres Town Hall at 7pm on Wednesday, February 5.
