Plans to convert the former police station at Peterhead into a business hub have been lodged with Aberdeenshire Council.
The property at 4 Merchant Street in the centre of the town has lain empty since August 2020, when the police relocated to Buchan House on St Peter Street.
Station House comprises two semi-detached buildings which have been linked and, including garages and a yard to the rear, measure a total of 12,667 sq ft.
Phase one of the proposed work would include a business lounge, meeting rooms and ground floor offices. When complete, Station House shiuld be able to accommodate up to 100 people across three floors in a range of co-working spaces and single person offices, up to larger multi-team working zones, with several meeting rooms for use by members.
Work is expected to begin in early summer, with the first members moving in by late summer. The renovation will also include the creation of a number of storage units at the rear of the property.
Space will be let on a fully inclusive basis, with a single monthly fee covering office furniture, Wi-Fi, all utilities, access to the business lounge and meeting rooms - and other extras such as tea and coffee making facilities.
The plan is for Station House to also give access for the wider business community in Peterhead, providing a venue where local businesses can connect for networking and hosting events.
Scottish-based Forget Me Not Properties are the new owners of the building, with director Wendy Sneddon said: “There is a real shortage of centrally-located modern, high quality, flexible workspaces available in Peterhead and certainly nothing which will offer the level of service and flexibility that Station House will provide.
“For anyone wishing to trial the arrangement, we will offer flexible contracts, which will give them the option to upgrade to a private office if they wish.
“There will also be an ideal space suitable for the creation of a wellness hub for holistic and wellness-based businesses.”
The development is being project managed by Neil McLeod of Property Partners, which opened his own development, the Lyon’s Den Business Hub in Banff, last June.
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