New owners of Grantown's Grandview will restore 'The Palace'
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The new owners of Grantown’s former Grandview Care Home have plans to make the Strathspey capital ‘great again’ and are looking for ideas from the community on how best to provide desperately-needed affordable homes.
LGS Group spokesman Liam Simpson issued a statement yesterday: “Louise, Walter and myself are very private people and generally would not have made comment in normal circumstances, but given the importance of Grandview to the town, we agreed to issue a statement regarding our plans.
“Firstly, the name will revert to ‘The Palace’. That name holds a special place for us as my granny, Dolly Gordon, who passed away a few years ago, was a long-time resident of the Grantown area.
“She was attracted to this area and secured work at the Palace Hotel. She then met my grandfather, Douglas Gordon, and they brought up their family in the community. Three further generations on, they live and work within the area to this day.”
The Simpsons, of Cromdale, were delighted to be involved in the acquisition of ‘The Palace’ alongside their development partner Walter Jones.
Mr Simpson explained: “The legal elements are complicated and have yet to be concluded but we see that as a time formality, and we are pressing ahead with our planning and surveying which is extensive and alone will cost a six-figure sum.
“These plans will consist of the most viable option from affordable housing and staff accommodation, which the local economy desperately needs.
“We are also exploring the possibility of creating several business rental units on the ground floor which could give a bit of foot traffic to the High Street.
“However, until our architect, the 3d survey, fire safety team and engineers have finished their survey work and design guide etc, we do not know exactly which road we will follow. We are excited to get started on work as soon as possible.”
The time-scale was uncertain at this stage, said Mr Simpson. “The local people should know that it may take a year to go through the redevelopment design and planning processes. These things tend to throw up a lot of pain and reasoning, but we would urge the local authorities and the planning department to give it their utmost attention and support us when it passes their desks, as it will be of benefit to all, not least to Grantown High Street.”
The building, acquired in February with a successful online auction bid of £270,000, was just too big an opportunity to pass up, said Mr Simpson.
“And with our Cromdale development overcoming its final conditions this week, hopefully this will give our companies up to 50 housing units locally to deliver over the next two to three years, 33 of which will be in the affordable bracket to some extent.”
That, along with the jobs and employment for locals it would create, was very satisfying, he said.
“There has been a lot of leg work, cost, planning and pain to get to this stage but we finally feel we are making headway.
“We’d encourage and greatly appreciate the support of the local community and councils alike.”
Louise Simpson was looking forward to working alongside the community and stressed: “We are open to all the ideas of what people would like to see. What is missing for the local people of Grantown? So many places closing down on the High Street has been a big blow to workers in the area. We would like to have some input into how we can help make Grantown great again and lift spirits.”
She currently offers a service providing respite to families in the Highlands and said: “I am particularly interested on having a base for a respite or day centre for young people and their families to visit.
“With very little available in the area and a lot of families who really need that support and assistance I am open to receiving ideas to create a base in any way that I can.”
