Ambitious plans for the former school

Rannoch Community Trust has been granted planning permission to turn a former school into an £830,000 community hub.

The premises at Kinloch Rannoch will be used as a social enterprise cafe/bar, office space, a meeting room, outdoor seating and a playpark.

The building was originally built as the village school in 1840 but it closed when a new school opened in 1965.

During the 1980s it was transformed into a residential outdoors centre but the council deemed it "surplus to requirements" and it closed in 2019.

The trust won funding from the Scottish government's Scottish Land Fund to cover the cost of buying the building, legal fees and repairs.

Individuals, local groups and also external agencies will be able to offer outreach services in the area.

The hub will bring employment opportunities with around a dozen posts created through the operation of the office, meeting spaces as well as the cafe.

The trust said online: "This marks a major milestone for the project and enables us to proceed in developing this asset for the Rannoch community.

"Our architect team at Studio East Architects are now working towards securing a building warrant which will allow us to put the construction project out to tender.

"Meanwhile Rannoch Community Trust is continuing to secure the remaining funding required to complete the project to the highest standards and provide state-of-the-art facilities for community use."

The announcement was welcomed by local councillor John Duff, who said: "The Rannoch Hub development will be a game changer for Kinloch Rannoch.

"The former outdoor centre and grounds are in a great location and the approved project will give the community some much needed and very welcome facilities plus employment opportunities."