Forres’ Leanchoil Trust plans include 38 new homes on former maternity wing

Members of the public were invited to see the latest plans for a much-loved former hospital being community asset transferred from NHS Grampian.

The Leanchoil Trust hosted a guided, walk-in event at Forres Town Hall on Thursday afternoon, confirming that Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is backing their proposals for a wellbeing hub for multi-generational use at the St Leonard’s Road site, which will also see a former maternity unit demolished and replaced with new, supported accommodation.

A HES spokesperson said: “We champion the re-use of historic buildings and the benefits this can bring to communities. Our role in the planning system is to provide advice and guidance to help ensure this is done sensitively and sustainably.

“We have been involved in pre-application discussions with Moray Council and the Leanchoil Trust. We have provided advice on the trust’s proposals for the site and welcomed them in principle.”

The maternity building is Category ‘B’ listed. The new development will provide supported accommodation for older people and those of all ages with additional needs.

Leanchoil trustee, Michael Barron, confirmed “around 40 units will be available”.

He said: “They will offer assisted living provision for a varied demographic. LDN Architects, Robertson Homes and Hanover Housing are involved in the project.

“The hospital wing was added in the 1930s, built in the same style as the rest of the building which opened in 1892. The new build will provide much-needed housing.”

Funding has been secured from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Pilgrim Trust and Scottish Land Fund, Architectural Heritage Fund, Berry Burn Community Fund, and Crown Estates.

In its response to the pre-planning submission, HES stated: “The benefits of this project outweigh the loss of the maternity wing. The supporting information demonstrates that it is essential to delivering the project.”

Hanover Housing spokeswoman, Maurissa Fergusson, believes the Leanchoil project is “a testament to community collaboration, transforming a historic site into a vibrant community hub for all ages”.

She said: "We’re pleased that Moray Council recognises this exciting opportunity to revitalise a derelict site and create meaningful community infrastructure.

"We are moving forward with a proposal of a mixture of 38 specially designed homes which will provide high-quality supported accommodation for older people and those with additional needs. These homes will be built to a high specification, creating comfortable and modern living spaces that support the community's unmet needs.

“We look forward to working with the local community. We hope to begin work in spring 2026, subject to planning consent.”

Changes to the main hospital building – also Cat B listed - will be limited to internal walls and partitions, along with a new café, kitchen and a high-tech, immersive training room.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Ambulance Service station will also remain at the site.

“We’re concentrating on the maternity wing and main building for now,” added Mr Barron. “However, we have funding for a feasibility study for the nurses home at the back of the site which will be a separate project at a later stage. It could be potentially used as housing for key workers, as more accommodation for Hanover or alternative uses or projects.

“39 Engineer Regiment are hopefully going to help with the electrics and woodwork at the summer house. We hope, once finished, it will look as attractive as it once did.

“Leanchoil is a listed building so we aim to retain its distinctive look as much as possible.”

Draft proposals were submitted to Moray Council last week, ahead of a detailed planning application expected later this year.

Supporters say the quality of the original construction means the building is structurally in generally excellent condition, giving more options for the re-purposing of the interior.

Travellers, who occupied the space outside the main doors for more than three months, are believed to have left, apparently leaving rubbish in their wake but no damage to the building.

Should planning consent be agreed, work could start on site in the spring of 2026.

Chairwoman of the Leanchoil Trust, Marianne Nicolson, was pleased to reveal the plans at Forres Town Hall on Thursday.

She said: “We know we are being ambitious about delivering our plans but HES being enormously positive about the alterations we are proposing has instilled us with enormous confidence to crack on with the full planning application.

“We are still open to suggestions from the community about what else they would like to see included.”

She added: “This project will become a trailblazer across the UK for repurposing large redundant buildings for community use.

“There is still a long way to go and we’ll need a big injection of cash – about £4million – to realise the final vision we have for Leanchoil. However, we’re on our way!

“The recent withdrawal of the Erskine Veterans charity from the project means we now have more space and can better mould the premises to the needs of the area - reflected in our latest plans.

“Our focus now is on securing formal planning consent from Moray Council, after which we can complete the purchase of the site from NHS Grampian and move the project forward.”

Visit https://www.leanchoiltrust.org/ for more information.