£500,000 moved to Elgin’s Gordon Arms creative arts centre

Moray Council redirected Levelling Up money from the Sawmill project to secure full public access at the High Street building.

Daily Alba · 2 October 2026 · 2 min read

Illustrative image of a historic stone building under renovation; not the Gordon Arms. Illustrative image, not a photograph of the reported event.

Moray Council has reallocated £500,000 from the Sawmill project, which will not go ahead as proposed, to the former Gordon Arms Hotel on Elgin High Street, Scottish Construction Now reports.

Why

Detailed design showed the need for full public access, including a lift to the third floor and changes to layout, fire safety and building systems.

Unchanged total

The overall £18.285 million Levelling Up Fund allocation for Elgin city centre is unchanged.

Reaction

Depute leader Amber Dunbar said the move would maximise the impact of the investment. Committee chair Marc Macrae said it would make the centre welcoming to all ages and abilities.

Source & attribution: This original report is based on Scottish Construction Now, published 2 October 2026. This is not independent on-the-ground reporting.