Planning in Moray: £260k sanctuary bid for Findhorn
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Planning permission is being sought to replace one of the two buildings that were deliberately burned down last year at the Findhorn Eco-village.
An application has been submitted to Moray Council to build a new meditation sanctuary.
The proposed mediation sanctuary will be constructed, as much as possible, using local eco-friendly materials and include wind-blown timber from the nearby forest.
The agent for the planning application is Green Leaf Design & Build Ltd, which is based on the Altyre Estate near Forres.
Founded in 2008 by Jason Caddy, the company focuses on ecologically-friendly building and joinery techniques.
Unlike the previous meditation sanctuary, which was owned and managed by the Findhorn Foundation, the new building will be owned and managed by the eco-community.
Forecast costs for the build are £260,000.
A total of £217,000 has been raised so far – with around £43 000 still to go.
This amount has come mainly from donors to the Findhorn Foundation, as well as from funds raised by initiatives such as the recent monthly craft and food markets, and monthly by-donation meditations.
It also includes £70,000 donated by the Foundation from an insurance payment for the community centre, which was the other building destroyed by fire.
Two separate blazes were started deliberately during the early hours of April 12 last year.
A former employee who had been made redundant was later ordered by the courts to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
