COUNCIL chiefs are “actively supporting” efforts to restore empty properties in Rothesay, a report has revealed.

Argyll and Bute Council’s townscape heritage project for the town ended in March, with five priority buildings repaired and other works undertaken.

However, officials from the authority have recognised that work is “only partially complete”, with Rothesay Pavilion among those highlighted.

A report is also due to be published evaluating the conservation area regeneration scheme (CARS) project for Dunoon, which ended in July 2023.

The details feature in a document for a meeting of the council’s environment, development and infrastructure committee on Thursday, September 12.

Executive director Kirsty Flanagan said: “Despite the completion of the Rothesay TH project, it is recognised that the job of regeneration and preservation is only partially complete and there remain a number of empty properties in Rothesay’s centre, including the Royal Hotel, Albert Pier and the Pavilion.

“The transformation projects and regeneration team are actively supporting efforts to address some of these priority buildings.”

Ms Flanagan then listed a series of bullet points, including £9m of rural growth deal funding towards the Pavilion, and £200,000 of Crown Estate funding for the demolition of a vacant building at Albert Pier.

On the Dunoon project, she added: “The envelope restoration of four priority buildings and 32 shopfronts have been completed.

“Working in partnership with Dunoon Community Development Trust, CHARTS, Dunoon Grammar School and Tacit Tacit, a complementary scheme of skills development was successfully delivered with courses and workshops in stonemasonry, woodworking, painting and lime mortar.

“An additional grant from the Castle Knowledge Trust in 2023 allowed for archaeological geophysical surveys to be undertaken on the scheduled monument castle site in Dunoon.

“The Dunoon CARS evaluation report is currently being prepared by consultants to evaluate the impact of the CARS funding in Dunoon and a final audit is being undertaken prior to the project being formally closed down.”