Moray MP Douglas Ross has “warmly welcomed” a major funding award for the Leanchoil Trust which will enable them to purchase the site of the former hospital in Forres.
The Trust have received £440,500 from the Scottish Land Fund, which includes £375,000 of capital funding and a further £65,500 of revenue funding.
As well as the purchase of the site, the capital funding will be used to cover surveys, insurance, legal fees and mapping. The revenue funding will ensure a contract for a specialist heritage buildings project officer to support the Trust.
The Trust are still hoping to complete the transfer of ownership with NHS Grampian by the middle of next year.
Douglas says this significant funding award is testament to the hard work of the Trust in recent years and praised them for ensuring the plans have progressed to this stage.
He says that the development of this site is absolutely crucial to Forres after the closure of the local community hospital and that he will continue to engage closely with the Leanchoil Trust to ensure that the plans continue to come to fruition.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “This funding award is absolutely fantastic news for the Leanchoil Trust.
"It is testament to the hard work over recent years by all those involved in the Trust.
“The award of close to £450,000 shows that there is significant confidence in the Trust’s plans to develop this site, which is so important to the local community.
“It was extremely disappointing when Leanchoil Hospital closed in Forres given how it gave patients easy access to healthcare on their doorstep.
“However, the work of the Trust means that we are now in a place where this site can be developed and the ownership transferred into the hands of the community over the next few months.
“This is a huge boost for the Trust and I will continue to work closely with them to ensure that their plans continue to come to fruition and that the site becomes a huge asset for the Forres area in the years ahead.”
