Forres Local

A major stage in the development of the former Leanchoil Hospital has been reached with planning approval by Moray Council to conserve and re-purpose the Category B listed buildings to a health and wellbeing centre, along with a new 41-unit supported housing facility. Once completed the main building will feature consulting rooms, a physio and rehabilitation … Read more

A road bridge crossing the Mosset Burn will be closed for the ‘long term’ after failing a structural assessment. The Lea Bridge which connects Invererne Road and Lea Road is to be closed to vehicular traffic in the coming weeks. The bridge will be kept open to pedestrians and cyclists and the condition monitored as … Read more

Residents and business owners are being invited to help shape proposals to enhance four key public spaces in Forres at an upcoming community drop-in event. The public realm project will bring forward enhancements to four significant town centre locations: The session will take place at the Tolbooth on Friday 20 March 2026, with two opportunities … Read more

A young woman who started an apprenticeship with a Forres company, has won an award for her inspiring work to encourage other young women into a male-dominated industry. Kiera Wright, who joined AES Renewables through a graduate apprenticeship in 2021, has developed into a skilled engineer working across PV design, grid compliance and technical support. … Read more

The Nicholson Building on St Catherine’s Road has been demolished. Built in the late 19th century or early 20th, the building was originally the Forres Carriage and Motor Works. It was sold to Peter Stuart Nicolson in 1933 and later named in his memory. In 1998 it was restored by the Moray Furniture Store Company … Read more

SNP MP, Graham Leadbitter, has given his backing to a campaign calling on the Chancellor to reduce VAT for hospitality businesses. A UK Parliament petition in favour of the campaign has been shared widely by businesses in his Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey constituency, which is home to the second most signatories of the petition … Read more

Work to restore a town centre monument is nearling completion. Scaffolding has gone up again around the Mercat Cross at the very heart of Forres. Stonemason’s have returned to replace four finials that were removed as they started to crumble. George Alexander, a trustee with the Forres Heritage Trust said: “This is the final step … Read more

The Forres-based orbital launch services company and space rocket manufacturer, Orbex, is in the process of appointing administrators after fundraising, merger and acquisition opportunities all concluded unsuccessfully.   Orbex has filed a notice of intention to appointment Administrators and will continue trading while all options for the future of the company are explored, including potential sale … Read more

Erskine Veterans Charity was delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of its Forres-based Activity Centre, EVAC North, with a birthday party attended by almost 100 members. Staff and volunteers originally organised the party for the previous week; however, due to adverse weather, the event was delayed. The get-together more than made up … Read more