Plan to convert Nairn church clears latest hurdle
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A PROJECT to convert a Nairn church into flats took a step forward when it was granted listed building consent.
The conversion of Rosebank Church on Nairn’s Academy Street into nine flats was approved by council planners, subject to a number of conditions.
Nairn West And Suburban Community Council supported the proposal but it raised concerns about flats on the building’s south-west side having balconies that would overlook the neighbouring primary school.
"For the safety and privacy of children, this is not a feature which can be supported," the community council told planners, who ordered the balconies to be withdrawn as part of the consent.
The future of the building has been in doubt for some time after earlier plans to convert it into a nursery had to be abandoned in the face of spiralling costs. Renovation work had to be stopped partway through at that time, though the building’s owner, Sheridan Macrae, insisted he was not going simply to abandon the building.
"I know how special this church is to people and I am not going to sit around and do nothing — a £400,000 bank loan is tied up in the building," he said.
"It has cost thousands just to keep the building functioning over the years. The nursery would have been the perfect tenant, but it just got to the stage where we couldn’t carry on."
Mr Macrae’s father had bought the former church for £1 several decades ago.
Having obtained listing building consent, Mr Macrae will now have to gain full planning permission before work to create the flats can begin.
