Forres Area Community Trust apply to renovate Forres Town Hall

PLANS have been released showing how one of the town's most important buildings is to be propelled into the 21st century while retaining its former grandeur.

Using a grant from the Scottish Land Fund, custodians Forres Area Community Trust (FACT) have applied to Moray Council to restore and make extensive changes to Forres Town Hall, including sub-dividing it into three spaces, introducing retractable seats and a new mezzanine floor, providing lifts at the front and back as well as improved kitchen and bathroom facilities.

FACT chairman, Fabio Villani, said: "The Scottish Land Fund’s generous support has enabled us to develop our plans for the town hall's future, as outlined in the recent planning permission and listed building consent applications.

"When the purchase is concluded this will mark an important milestone in the history of Forres, as one more key element of the town’s heritage is fully returned to the direct care of the local community.

"It will also mark an important milestone in the development of FACT as a key organisation in helping the people of Forres make the most of the town’s many assets, in this case being able to realise the aims of the future vision for Forres Town Hall."

Moray Council closed the town hall as part of cutbacks in 2017 so FACT stepped in to lease and manage the building on behalf of the community.

FACT worked with user groups Forres and District Pipe Band, Varis Players, Film Forres and the Royal Scottish County Dance Society to increase its occupancy and use. New FACT-organised activities such as the Forres Online drop-in sessions and Older Persons Project seated exercise were introduced. And new used groups including Turning Point Church, Zumba and Pound exercise classes, Guide Dog Training and Moray Food Plus community meals have also been welcomed.

During the coronavirus lockdown, the town hall has served as a hub for the Forres and Kinloss Community Food project, allocating over 1000 meals since May. It has also been open for donations of food, masks, and blankets for the Scrubs and Cameron Projects. Socially distanced volunteers have even managed to refresh some of the décor in the North Room.

FACT is now in the final stages of a Community Asset Transfer, expected to complete before the end of the year.

Following extensive community consultation, a vision has been developed which will see the 193-year-old building's functionality transformed. Aims include: transforming the large hall into a modern, multi-purpose, accessible performance space; ensuring universal accessibility to the upper floor at the front and rear; creating additional flexible floor space for use by the community and social enterprises; restoring the lesser hall as an event space that celebrates the heritage of the building; and making the entrance foyer more welcoming and practical.

Applications for planning permission and listed building consent have been submitted to refurbish, insulate and improve the facility. A funding bid to the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) has also been submitted.

The design proposal submitted for planning permission and listed building consent sub-divides the town hall into: a front section with foyer, toilets and a restored lesser hall; a central section with a large multi-purpose performance space; and a rear section with three levels of flexible workspace, and meeting rooms. This would be achieved by removing the art deco alterations from the main hall, revealing the original roof structure, and installing retractable seating to allow for more flexible uses.

Through removing the gallery in the main hall, to re-purpose the first-floor corridors (and the stairs that lead to them) that service the gallery as flexible work/meeting space and storage.

New multi-purpose rooms and support space would be introduced over three floors where the stage is now, including a new room below the roof structure overlooking the main hall. A new second floor mezzanine would be built in the first-floor room on the front elevation.

Dedicated plant space at the rear of the main hall will allow installation of efficient energy systems. The lesser hall will be restored and redecorated. Accessibility to the building will be improved by adjusting external levels and improving surfacing in the adjoining alleyway.

FACT development manager, Debbie Herron, said: "As we conclude the final stages of securing the community ownership of Forres Town Hall, we are very excited to have submitted applications for planning permission and listed building consent as our next step towards redeveloping and refurbishing the building for the benefit of the community."

To see the plans in full visit the Moray Council planning applications website and use the reference 20/00888/APP.

For more information call FACT on 01309 674 388 or email info@forresarea.org.