Grant Lodge Redevelopment

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Grant Lodge?

Grant Lodge is a historic B-listed building in Cooper Park, Elgin. Originally built in the 18th century by MP Sir James Grant for his aunt Lady Innes, it was gifted to the people of Elgin by subsequent owner Sir George Cooper in 1903. It has served various public uses including Elgin Library and a local records / heritage centre. Grant Lodge has been closed since a fire in 2003.

2. What is happening to Grant Lodge?

The building is being restored and redeveloped by Moray Council as part of the Moray Growth Deal Cultural Quarter project. It will become a social space, cultural and heritage venue for both locals and visitors to the region.

3. What will the building be used for?

Once restored, Grant Lodge will become a key destination for local people and visitors alike, offering the following social and cultural facilities in the beautiful setting of Cooper Park:

1. Hospitality and retail (e.g. café, shop, pop-ups, demonstrations).
2. Visitor orientation for Elgin and the wider Moray region.
3. Private hire (e.g. functions, weddings, meetings, events).
4. Heritage exhibitions and gallery space.
5. Cultural and community events.

4. Why is this project needed?

Public feedback strongly supports enhanced leisure and cultural facilities, including the re-opening of Grant Lodge as an accessible space for all.

1. Tourism potential of Elgin and Cooper Park as visitor destinations, raising the profile and signposting to the wider offer in the region.
2. Economic benefit: The project supports jobs, tourism, and local businesses.
3. Youth retention: Young people often leave the region due to lack of amenities/opportunities.
4. Protecting Scotland’s Heritage – Grant Lodge is a listed, ‘at risk’ building.

5. How will this benefit the community?

Brings a landmark building back into use:

1. Creates new social, cultural, and educational opportunities.
2. Boosts local pride and town centre regeneration.
3. Supports the local economy through events and tourism.
4. Unlocks the potential of Cooper Park and links the park/heritage and cultural quarter with the High Street.

6. How much will it cost and what funding is available?

The project is estimated to cost around £9m. £4m (44%) is available through the Moray Growth Deal, funded by Scottish Government, UK Government, and Moray Council.

7. Where will the rest of the money come from?

Moray Council is working with the Grant Lodge Trust to raise additional capital funds through grant applications to major public bodies, charitable trusts and foundations, and individuals.

8. What is the timeline?

The project designs are being developed by Page Park Architects and a planning application will be submitted in late summer 2025. Alongside this, Moray Council is working with the Grant Lodge Trust, the community, and a group of specialist advisors to update the business plan. Works to repair the historic fabric of Grant Lodge will begin in 2027 with phased delivery of the project likely to take place between 2027 – 2029 as the funding package is confirmed.

9. Why is it taking so long?

Grant Lodge has been vacant since 2003, and we want to return this magnificent building to use for the benefit of the community in the long term. This is a lengthy process with many processes to work through, but we are now firmly on the path towards realising this vision. With continued community support and partnership work, we are confident this long-term transformation will be realised.

10. What is the relationship between the council and the Grant Lodge Trust?

Moray Council is the legal custodian of Grant Lodge under the terms of the Grant Lodge and Cooper Park Trust. The Grant Lodge Trust is a Charitable Trust formed to ‘preserve, conserve and develop Grant Lodge’. The council and Grant Lodge Trust are working together to develop the capital project and a suitable Governance model for Grant Lodge when restored.

11. Who will manage Grant Lodge once it opens?

Moray Council is supporting the development of the Grant Lodge Trust (GLT) to enable it to fulfil a role similar to Elgin Town Hall for the Community (ETHC), taking forward day-to-day operations of Grant Lodge. The long-term ambition of the CQ is to establish a new Culture and Heritage Trust for Moray which will have a wider strategic role and support these individual operations.

12. Will it be sustainable?

hospitality, lettable spaces, and fundraising, while working with volunteers to build a sustainable community enterprise.

13. What’s happening with parking?

Moray Council is working with partners in the Cultural Quarter, Neighbourhood Board, town centre and Cooper Park to commission a town centre parking study and Cooper Park masterplan. The design team for Grant Lodge along with the advisory board will work with these holistic studies to establish a parking solution which meets the needs of the town.

14. What about the Grant Lodge Deed of Gift?

As Cooper Park and Grant Lodge were gifted to the people of Elgin, the project is grounded in the principle of public benefit. Ensuring the building remains an accessible, community-focused venue is central to both the business plan and operational model.

It is critical to the success of the project that Grant Lodge is returned to the people of Moray as an accessible cultural and community hub and our business plan and operational model is based on this key principle. Some of the terms of the Trust Deed are outdated and we will engage in a formal process to update these terms so that Grant Lodge and other areas of the park can remain sustainable and viable in the current day.

15. What is the Cultural Quarter?

The Moray Growth Deal Cultural Quarter as part of the Elgin City Centre Masterplan, will restore and renew two listed buildings in the heart of Elgin – Elgin Town Hall and Grant Lodge – to create fit for purpose facilities which act as a catalyst for cultural regeneration, enhancing the region’s cultural, social and evening economy offering and boosting Moray’s attractiveness as a place to live, work, study and relax. The CQ also includes a centrally located hotel, an art gallery/creative arts centre, Elgin Museum and Cooper Park improvements which are being developed by different teams working alongside the MGD CQ team.