Restoration works have been completed at a former stately home on Raasay.
Raasay House was taken over by the local community in 2007. It then underwent a £4.5m refurbishment project, and was in the final stages of completion when it was destroyed by a fire in January 2009.
The following year, the project's contractor, Rok, fell into administration and a new contractor had to be hired.
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Big Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland funded the upgrade and refurbishment project, with HIE working intensively with Raasay House Community Company (RHCC) since the fire to get the building back on track.
With works now completed, the Grade A listed mansion house now offers a range of accommodation from luxury to lodge, a café, bar and restaurant and an activity centre.
This weekend, it will host the 'Big Weekend' from 12 – 15 July to celebrate the completion of the refurbishment.
David Westgarth, Chairman of RHCC said: "Seven years ago the Raasay community acquired Raasay House and set about securing the funding package to refurbish the building, and establishing a tenant that would pay a rent to the community. After numerous setbacks and frustrations that goal has now been achieved with the help of HIE, The Big Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland.
"Raasay House is now a magnificent building with a new interior and new roofs throughout but looking as it always did from the outside. Our tenants the Raasay Outdoor Centre are now in situ with a full insurance and maintenance tenancy and we look forward to helping them make the house a key economic driver to help sustain the future of the Island and its community."
Eilidh Ross of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, added: "It has been a long and often difficult road for Raasay House to reopen as an important community asset. We are delighted that Raasay House is now in a position to open its doors to visitors."
Raasay House will be officially opened on 20 September by Lib Dem MP Charles Kennedy.
(JP/CD)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
26/11/2024
Scottish Water has unveiled its largest-ever procurement initiative, aiming to modernise the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure while safeguarding the environment. The program, named Delivery Vehicle 4, is valued between £5 billion and £9 billion and is set to run from 2027 to 2033, with ...
26/11/2024
The City of Edinburgh Council has granted planning permission, subject to conditions, for the refurbishment of Calton Square, an office building currently occupied by Baillie Gifford until the end of December 2025. Promoted by Ardstone Capital on behalf of Manova Partners, the project aims to ...
26/11/2024
First Minister John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, praised the progress being made on the construction of the new Perth High School during a visit on Friday, 22 November. He was joined by Jim Fairlie, MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, alongside senior Perth and Kinross Councillors, ...
26/11/2024
A state-of-the-art playpark has officially opened at King George V Park in Bearsden, following the completion of a £100,000 refurbishment. Funded by a combination of East Dunbartonshire Council (EDC) Capital Funding and the Scottish Government’s Renewing Scotland’s Play Parks initiative, the ...
26/11/2024
Fife Council has launched a public consultation, inviting residents, businesses, and organizations to contribute ideas and propose sites for inclusion in the next Local Development Plan, known as Fife's Place Plan. The council is calling on community councils, landowners, and developers to share ...
26/11/2024
The Chief Executive of East Lothian Council has announced she is to retire in February 2025. Monica Patterson who has been Chief Executive for almost five years, has spent most of her professional career working in local government. Prior to joining East Lothian Council in 2010, she was Head of ...
25/11/2024
West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) and Connect Modular have jointly submitted a planning application to Glasgow City Council for the development of 33 affordable homes in Cowlairs. This project aligns with the wider Cowlairs Park regeneration scheme and the city's ambitious housing ...
25/11/2024
Arc-Tech (Scotland) has successfully completed a £6m Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) services package for the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Edinburgh. The state-of-the-art resort, which opened its doors earlier this month, features a range of amenities, including a wave pool, luxury lodges, and ...
25/11/2024
Scottish Water has successfully completed the construction of a groundbreaking hydro energy generation scheme at Whiteadder Reservoir in East Lothian. This innovative project, believed to be the first of its kind in Europe, will harness the power of water to offset a significant portion of the ...
25/11/2024
Work is set to commence on a £6.5 million project to upgrade the Double Dykes Gypsy/Traveller site near Perth. The initiative aims to replace outdated chalets with modern, energy-efficient accommodation and implement significant site improvements. Perth & Kinross Council secured £3.9 million from ...