Formartine House prepares to welcome customers as transfer of services begins
Ellon’s first family resource centre and new library are set to open to customers over the next fortnight as work on Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine House reaches completion.
The two-storey development on Union Street has been built on part of the former Ellon Academy site, bringing several council services under one roof and allowing for the release of other town centre sites for alternative uses, including retail.
The main public entrance leads to the new Ellon Library, while the Ellon Family Resource Centre – a first for the town – has a dedicated entrance and enclosed outdoor play area.
The internal layout of Formartine House has been designed to be fully accessible and features a PAMIS ‘Changing Places’ toilet facility that can be accessed from Bridge Street.
Car parking is available via Union Street, featuring electric vehicle charging points, along with cycle lockers and stands.
The building is highly energy efficient and has been designed to achieve ‘net zero’ operational standards, reducing operational costs. Landscaping on the site will support pollinating insects, swifts, and bats, while a walnut tree, thought to be around 300 years old, has been protected as part of the development.
As a new facility for the town, Ellon Family Resource Centre is a tailored and fully accessible building to provide advice and support families and individuals in the area.
The centre, which opens on Monday, February 3, will offer a range of family support, parent and child support, and parenting programmes in a warm, welcoming environment.
A range of life skills courses will also be provided at the centre, which is fully adapted to welcome children and families of all ages and physical abilities. This allows for the delivery of tailored healthy living programmes in the purpose-built kitchen and dining room.
Support is available by referral or upon request by contacting 01467 537111 or elcsduty@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
The new Ellon Library, meanwhile, offers comfortable study and seating areas, with a separate room for local studies that can be booked or is available upon request if not in use.
The current Ellon Library, on Station Road, will close at 2pm on Saturday, February 1, to allow for the transfer of books and resources, and reopen in the new building at 9.30am on Tuesday, February 11.
The new space will continue to offer a series of events and activities, including Bookbug sessions in the new children’s area. Digital services will remain available while the library’s stock of around 6,500 items is transferred to the new building, where services will continue to be available for 30 hours per week.
Also based in the building will be the Registrars Service, with the team very pleased to now have a modern, bright ceremonies room with capacity for up to 50 people. There is also a dedicated room for meeting customers.
The team will continue to offer a variety of ceremonial services, support family history research, and undertake the registration of births, marriages, and deaths.
As before, face-to-face meetings will be by appointment only by contacting registrars@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or calling 01467 468 468.
Provost of Aberdeenshire Judy Whyte, who attended the ground-breaking ceremony as the project got underway in September 2023, said: “In less than a year and a half we have seen a significant transformation of this important town centre site which will support the community for many years to come.
"Morrison North East have delivered a modern, welcoming, and energy-efficient building and I hope all our customers, visitors, and council teams enjoy spending time in it.”
Meetings of Aberdeenshire Council’s Formartine Area Committee will also take place in the building.
Committee chair Cllr Iain Taylor said: “I’m pleased to see Formartine House ready to open and am very much looking forward to holding our future meetings in the building.
"As well becoming a central hub for council services in Ellon, the building presents the opportunity for the council to release a number of town centre sites that have potential for various other uses over the coming months and years.”
Mike Bruce, Managing Director for Morrison North East, said: “We are very pleased to have been involved in the construction of Formartine House. This has been another example of us using local labour and local supply chain partners to ensure an early completion of the project.”
Aberdeenshire Council is inviting interest in the Station Road library building, which is now available for sale. Further details are available at: https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/media/moieztu4/final-particulars-ellon-library.pdf