Fire damage at historic Aberdeen school revealed
A new image shows the destruction caused by the fire that tore through Aberdeen’s old Victoria Road Primary in May.
The Torry blaze caused the roof to partly cave in and left the building severely damaged.
Police and the fire brigade launched a joint probe into the incident but efforts were hampered because the granite structure was deemed unsafe.
Aberdeen City Council handed over the keys for the building to its new owners, Grampian Housing Association and its partners the Torry Development Trust, last month.
The new pictures were taken while architect Steven Berry from David Murray Associates visited the 141-year-old building this week.
They showed the partly demolished structure with charred debris lying on the ground nearby.
Mr Berry was on the site to carry out a full internal assessment of the property including the parts damaged by the fire.
His inspection will also help Grampian Housing Association draw up designs for its proposed housing development, with a planning application due to be submitted in August.
A spokeswoman for the Huntly Street-based housing association said: “Since Grampian Housing Association took ownership of the site, we are following through on our commitment to undertake safeguarding works and work to ensure that the buildings are wind and watertight.
“Assessment of the fire damage is ongoing but it is our intention to progress with our plans to provide quality affordable homes on the site.
“The development will assist people who want to stay in a new setting on Victoria Road.
“When complete, there will also be community facilities on the site and an initial meeting is planned with Aberdeen City Council to take these plans forward.
“The partnership approach by Grampian Housing Association and Torry Development Trust aims to secure the restoration and reuse of two fine structural sound granite buildings for future generations.”
Aberdeen South MP Ross Thomson has welcomed progress to give the school, which was closed in 2008, a new lease of life.
Mr Thomson said: “After a rocky and challenging start, the Victoria Road project looks to have a bright future.
“I am proud to be the MP for a constituency which has forward-thinking community groups like Torry Development Trust.
“I know it will be a cornerstone of the community and a lovely place to live.”
Torry and Ferryhill councillor Catriona Mackenzie said people in the area will be happy that the proposed project is moving forward.
She said: “It’s good to see that retaining the granite buildings is still a priority and I’m sure folk across Torry will be pleased to hear work is progressing.”
Victoria Road Primary School was built in 1878 after the Fishermen’s Association of Old Torry agreed to pay £1,400 towards the cost.
Grampian now owns Victoria Road School
A milestone has been reached in the regeneration of the former Victoria Road School in Torry, Aberdeen.
Transfer of ownership of the site has now completed and the keys have been handed over to Grampian Housing Association as the new owner.
In September 2018, Aberdeen City Council announced Grampian Housing Association as the preferred bidder in a partnership project with Torry Development Trust (TDT).
Neil Clapperton, chief executive of Grampian Housing Association said:
“It is an exciting day being able to finally announce that Grampian is the new owner of this site. Through our partnership with Torry Development Trust we welcome the opportunity to work with the people of Torry to present a shared regeneration proposal. Our plans will bring together affordable housing and community facilities to breathe new life into the heart of Old Torry.
“However, the first steps will be to follow through on our initial commitment to make sure that the buildings are wind and watertight.”
The development will provide quality affordable homes to meet varying housing needs including families, couples and single people. It will assist people who want to stay in a new setting on Victoria Road and when complete, will also include community facilities.
The partnership approach by Grampian Housing Association and Torry Development Trust aims to secure the restoration and reuse of two fine structural sound granite buildings for future generations.
Public Information Event on Thursday 21/2/19: Ballater Housing Development
A Public Information Event is being held on Thursday 21 February 2019 (3pm – 7.30pm) in the Victoria and Albert Halls, Station Square, Ballater.
The event will give people an opportunity to find out more about Grampian Housing Association’s revised plans to convert the listed former school building and school house at Abergeldie Road in the town.
Although Grampian Housing Association won an appeal to build new homes in Ballater, following further consultation with the Ballater and Crathie Community Council (BCCC) a revised planning application is being made.
On behalf of BCCC, Jim Anderson, Chairman said:-
“We are happy to support the revised plans for this development of new houses and apartments.”
Grampian Housing Association’s Chairman, Peter Kennedy, said:
“Through this development we will be providing much needed affordable housing for those living in Ballater and the surrounding area as well as bringing back into use a listed building which has been empty for many years."
“Grampian has already built over 300 new homes since 2014 and this development is part of our wider plan to increase the number of homes we build across Aberdeenshire by 2021.”
When complete the development at the former Ballater School will be advertised locally and online via HomeHunt. The first residents are expected to move into the new development in late 2019 / early 2020.
Office Closure - Monday 6 May 2019
Our Aberdeen and Elgin offices will be closed on May Day (Monday 6 May 2019). Please call 0300 123 9279 to report an EMERGENCY REPAIR (e.g. significant leak or total loss of power). Gas heating repairs should be reported direct to Heatcare Oil & Gas (T: 01343 842042). All non-emergency repairs should be reported when the office re-opens at 9am on Tuesday 7 May 2019.
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