Major step forward for iconic North East pool
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Plans to bring an iconic north-east outdoor swimming pool back into public use have taken a major step forward today.
The Friends of Tarlair group has now appointed Studio Octopi and Heritage Architecture to restore the pavilion at Tarlair Outdoor Pool.
The community group said it had unanimously chosen the two London-based firms for their "clarity of thought, enthusiasm for outdoor swimming and experience with other pools and heritage across the UK".
It pointed to the work that the two companies are doing to restore the Grange Over Sands Lido, which was built in the Cumbrian town during the 1930s.
The group added that they felt this to be "directly relevant" to Tarlair's restoration.
Funding assistance for the restoration has been secured from Aberdeeshire Council's Macduff Vision and Action Plan.
An application for planning permission and listed building consent is scheduled to put forward to the council in November.
Restoration work is due to commence next year once the full funding package is secured.
Tarlair Outdoor Pooloutdoor swimming complex was originally opened in 1931.
Built in an Art Deco style, it is considered by Historic Environment Scotland to be the best example of only three surviving outdoor seaside pools in Scotland, the others being at Stonehaven and Gourock.
Its design made clever use of pumped sea water to fill the pools, with flooding of the main pool at high tide flushing out the old water.
Between 1985 and 1994 the site was used as an open air concert arena where bands like Jethro Tull, Runrig and Wet Wet Wet played.
Since 2007 it has been protected as a category A-listed building.
Last year the Friends of Tarlair group had a formal application accepted by Aberdeenshire Council to take over the ownership of the pool.
