SLAINS CASTLE REDEVELOPMENT? UPDATE!

[michael j hay]

the problem with slains goes back to 1746 I feel, after Culloden some chiefs sold out the clans and bowed down to the Hanoverian imposters. some chiefs did not i.e. the Stewarts, McDonalds etc but when you look at the history back to our common ancestor William de la haye from him up to lady Diana hay who gathered all the hays at slains to fight the government in the 1700's they were all fierce supporters of Scotland.

but after Culloden a lot of chiefs took part in ethnic cleansing and cleared the clan land of its members at English gunpoint and sent them to the colonies, to increase their bank balances to afford their new lavish lifestyles in the home counties around London.
thus if you have a chief who was educated in England and still lives there! then I feel they have lost the right to govern the clan.

I do not feel I am fanatical about it..rather I am passionate. for example I served in the Gordon highlanders and we got a new officer and I said to him you don't have a hint of Scots in your accent, he said well I would not as I have never been there, he was from London with pure English roots and joined a highland regiment for the novelty factor.

and this novelty factor goes for some chiefs who fly up once a year for a clan gathering then go back to their comfortable London homes paid for by the clansmen of long ago who are probably turning in their graves.
so in summary slains castle, yester castle/house all fell victim to greed !!!

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again all,
just found this latest up date on New Slains Castle.

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

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

Current status
Outline Planning Consent was granted on 31st of 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 the 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.

So there you have it,
I of course will keep you all advised of any future news.
yours as ever,
Kenneth Hayton

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again all.
just found the latest on New Slains
from the Scotsman Newspaper.
so here it is.
Published Date: 08 July 2008
from an article
By Frank Urquhart


Perched on top of the dramatic cliffs near the spectacular chasm of the Bullars of Buchan,the dark and brooding Slains Castle which is now a roofless ruin – the last remains of an imposing fortress which may have once been home to Dracula himself. (If only in legend?)
Yesterday it was confirmed that the imposing keep, inhabited for more than four centuries of Earls of Erroll, is itself set to rise from the dead, just like the mysterious and bloody count! this next year – transformed into holiday homes as part of tourism boost for the area.

An eerie site on even the sunniest of days,New Slains Castle still dominates the rugged and rocky stretch of the Buchan coastline on which it stands.

It is very easy to understand long-standing claims by locals that New Slains Castle provided Bram Stoker with the inspiration for Count Dracula's Transylvanian fortress after regular visits to the Aberdeenshire - keep. (Although it wasn't the ruin it is today.)

Stoker is reputed to have written at least part of his horror classic in 1895 while staying at Crookit Lum Cottage, near Aberdeenshire's Cruden Bay, the home he used as a summer retreat for almost 20 years.

But four years ago, an Edinburgh-based developer, the Slains Partnership, was awarded outline planning permission from Aberdeenshire Council for a £6 million plan to convert the 16th-century fortress into 35 holiday apartments, despite angry claims by locals that the development would "drive a stake" through the castle's heart.

And now the firm is stepping up its plans.

Douglas Forrest, the architect behind the development, said yesterday: "We are about to submit an application to conclude all conditions and reserved matters relative to the outline planning consent and for that to progress to become effectively a detailed planning consent.

"The council will not need to scrutinise again the principle of Slains being rebuilt and made into letting apartments. They have already granted consent to the principle."

Mr Forrest, of Huntly-based firm Acanthus, said he hoped to have the remaining matters concluded and a building warrant for the works obtained by the end of the year, with construction work scheduled to begin next year.

He said: "I have no doubt that the scheme will be a success. The scheme captures the imagination in terms of a location and in terms of an iconic building.

"The Trump Organisation's golf resort development at Menie is not very far from Slains Castle and it will have a ripple effect in the whole of the North-east economy. I have no doubt about that whatsoever."
(if it goes ahead after a Government ordered inquiry.)
The first castle at New Slains was erected in 1597 by the ninth earl of Erroll. However, the roofless ruin which now stands on top of the cliffs is largely the remains of the Gothic castle which was built at New Slains in 1837 by the 19th earl. He used his home to host lavish parties.

Death duties forced the 20th earl to sell New Slains in 1916 and the castle was allowed to fall into disrepair. The roof had to be removed in 1925.

When plans for the redevelopment were first mooted, one of the objectors, Mark Julian, an architect who lives in the nearby hamlet of Whinnyfold, said: "To inhabit the castle would destroy its very being – a sharpened stake driven through its very heart."

Last October, the ruins were closed to the public on safety grounds. The Slains Partnership blocked off the castle – with wooden stakes. (how very apt, ha ha.)

So there you have it the partnership is bullish about it and thinks it will get the go-ahead.
But i think they may be under-estimating the local community and its supporters?
For now we will have to wait and see!
yours as ever.
Kenneth Hayton.

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again all,
there is a controversy brewing between Whitby in NE ENGLAND and Cruden Bay as to wether Whitby Abbey ruins or New Slains Castle is the setting of Bram Stokers, Dracula. according to letters and articles in the Press and Journal Newspaper.
Also it appears that according to the architect drawing up the plans for the slains partnership, the Castle will be restored to how it looked in its prime.
There also appears to be on the drawing board plans for a visitors centre where the history of the castle and the Erroll family will be displayed.
these also were in the Press and Journal recently.
If the last two snippets are correct it may not end up a bad development after all. but we shall have to wait for the plans being submitted later on this year.
of course if i hear or see anything before then i will post it.
yours as ever.
Kenneth Hayton.

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again all,
here is the latest on New Slains.
As of the 7th of Febuary 2009.

The planned redevelopment of the ruins of New Slains Castle near Cruden Bay are to be delayed due to the economic downturn.
The Edinburgh-based Slains Partnership was granted outline planning permission in August 2007 to develop the 16th century castle into 35 holiday flats.

It was envisaged that full planning permission would be granted by the end of 2008 with the construction work starting this year.
Aberdeenshire Council has not yet received a detailed planning application as yet.

Mr Douglas Forrest, the architect behind the development, has admitted that the project had suffered due to the recession but insisted it would still continue.
The Slains Partnership and Mr Forrest are to finalise a detailed application which will illustrate the design and appearance of the final development.
In December 2008, full planning permission was granted to change an access road to the site.
Without the detailed planning consent the only work on site will be the undertaking of non-destructive archaeological surveys.

Local residents were against the proposed plans when they were first discussed in 2004,
with many wanting the castle to be preserved as a reminder of the history of the Cruden area.

Mr Forrest's practice Acanthus Architects specialises in the imaginative re-use of historic and listed buildings.

I had wondered what was going on, but couldn't find any information until to day.
so we will have to wait and see what transpires.
yours as ever
Kenneth Hayton.

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again all,
still not much movement on New Slains,
but here is the latest update.

Developers have vowed to press ahead with their controversial plans to convert a spectacular clifftop fortress namely New Slains Castle formerly owned by the Hay's of Erroll, into holiday homes, despite being hit by the global recession.
New Slains Castle, near Cruden Bay, is reputed to be one of the inspiration's for Count Dracula’s Transylvanian home and attracts visitors from throughout the world.

The Edinburgh-based Slains Partnership wants to convert the dramatic ruin into a series of timeshare-style flats. The £6million proposal divided the local community, with many arguing the 16th-century castle should be kept as a preserved ruin.
The company eventually won outline planning consent in 2004 after councillors ruled Slains could crumble into the sea if it was left untouched.
The organisation has yet to submit a more detailed application for full planning consent, however.
Developers will meet in the north-east next month to discuss their next move.

The architect behind the development, Mr Douglas Forrest, of the Huntly-based company Acanthus, confirmed the scheme had slowed down because of the global credit crunch but insisted it was still on.
Like every other business we have been affected by the economic crisis,
It means that progress has been slower than we would have hoped, but we certainly have not given up on this. We still hope to have the application for full permission in before the end of the year.
It should be relatively simple to get the plans finalised and put through.
It is reportedly what he imparted to the local press.

This update comes from May 2009, but so far no more news from the developers on their plans.
i'll keep you all posted as soon as i find out anything more.
yours as ever,
Kenneth Hayton.

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again,
here is the latest update.


MORE DELAY'S AT NEW SLAINS PROJECT!


The morally contentious plans to convert a spectacular cliff-top ruin into holiday homes complex has again been hit by more delays.

New Slains Castle, on the edge of Cruden Bay Village, and widely regarded by many as the inspiration for Count Dracula’s Transylvanian home.

Five years ago, the Edinburgh-based Slains Partnership won outline planning permission to transform the ruins of the 16th-century castle into apartments,

despite opposition from local people in the Cruden Bay area and Bram Stoker 'Dracula' fans the world over.

The group have recently admitted that progress on the ambitious scheme had slowed down.

The company had hoped to lodge a detailed application for full planning consent some time during this year.

Douglas Forrest, the architect for the scheme, now has said to journalists that it was unlikely to happen at present.

He has said the partnership had not given up on the scheme. the detailed application is still being worked on, but it’s unlikely now that it will be submitted this year.

The sixmillion pound. holiday home plan divided the local community, with many people arguing that the castle ruins should be kept as they are.

Following what turned out to be a heated public meeting in the village, councillors accepted that New Slains Castle could crumble into the sea if it was left untouched.

So we are still no nearer to finding out if the scheme will ever go ahead in the current finananial climate or not?

or what will become of the place if it all falls through?

yours as ever, Kenneth Hayton.

[kenneth hayton]

Hi again all,
here is the latest update on New Slains Castle.
from sometime this last week.


THE firm behind ambitious plans to create 35 holiday apartments in historic New Slains Castle overlooking Cruden Bay say it could now possibly begin in 2011.
More than a year on since plans to redevelop the castle - believed to have provided the inspiration for Bram Stoker's character Dracula - were halted due to the credit crunch, but it seems now that plans are once again in the pipeline.

As you all know in August 2007, Edinburgh-based Slains Partnership won outline planning permission for its proposed £6million plan to transform the 16th century castle, seat of the Hays of Erroll into around 35 holiday apartments.

The recession seemed to have put paid to the plans last year, but there are new shoots of growth appearing this spring, with the architect behind New Slains castle tranformation confirming talks will be held with Slains Partnership in the coming weeks to set about putting the plans into action.

The plans were met with dismay and anger when they were first mooted in 2004, with local residents campaigning for New Slains castle to be preserved in its current form as testament to the wider history of the Cruden area and its people

Douglas Forrest of Acanthus Architects has said that due to the nature of the project, painstaking attention to detail had to be made and it could take a substantial amount of time to put them in place.

He told local newspapers "We will firstly be looking at purifying the conditions laid out in the outline planning consent. An archaeological investigation will also have to take place as it is an ancient site and this will take time."

Full planning consent and a building warrant are yet to be secured which needs done before any work can take place at the historic castle site.

Mr Forrest also added: "Purification of the land which went with the outline planning consent is ongoing - obviously the financial climate of the last couple of years has impacted on the project.

"But it is with 100% intention that the project gets completed as approved."

Mr Forrest hopes that construction work can begin at the site some time next year.

The saga goes on and on, will it ever get done?
yours as ever, Kenneth Hayton.

[ianhay_7]

Currently working in Peterhead for 5 weeks which is just a few miles from Cruden Bay/Port Errol, I plan to take a wee trip to Cruden Bay and walk along the coast to Slains Castle for a wee visit one of these weekends. I have seen it from the road on my way to Peterhead from Aberdeen on the service bus. It's a must see while I am up here.