The Community Association is committed to assisting the residents of Cruden Bay in accessing the latest information on issues impacting the community and represent their views to official bodies and stakeholders.

There have been several recent articles regarding the status of development of Slains Castle. The update below is based on our best endeavours to seek latest information on behalf on the community.

Current status
Outline Planning Consent was granted on 31 August 2007 for conversation to 35 holiday apartments.  This established the principle of development subject to a number of planning conditions.  A Reserved Matters (RM) application now requires to be submitted and approved before the development can start on site.  This application will deal with the detailed aspects of the development, namely the design, layout of the site, landscaping details etc including some of the matters covered by planning conditions.
 
Temporary fence
Concern has also been raised about the restriction of access to the castle by erection of security fence. We have sought clarification from the planning department regarding this move and have been advised although the fence is restricting access to the castle, the fence is not obstructing the North Sea Coastal Trail which passes close to the castle, therefore the coastal path/rights of way have not been obstructed and no action against the fence can be taken on these grounds.
We have also been advised by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) the fence does not affect the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), however SNH will continue to monitor the situation.

What happens next?
Information received from Acanthus Architects employed on behalf of the developer indicates work will commence on an 'archaeological standing building survey of the extant structure of the building' in the near future, works required by condition 24 of the outline planning consent. This work may involve the removal of stone, soil and other forms of detritus from within the castle boundaries.

We have been informed by the architect that they will be meeting the developers within the next month to plan the next steps to meet these conditions. Once all the Reserved Matters have been addressed they will be submitted and considered by the Planning Service then reported to the Buchan Area Committee for a decision.
The Community Association has contacted the developers agent to seek regular communication and updates on proposed actions and progress of further applications to the Planning Department.

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