North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT)

Growing Heritage Development Trust

Bringing derelict, disused and redundant buildings back to life

The North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) was established in 1985 through an initiative funded by the Scottish Civic Trust and Grampian Regional Council.

For the past 40 years, the remit of NESPT has been to acquire and restore significant historic or architectural properties that are not restorable by normal commercial mechanisms and bring them back into productive use. It originally operated on a ‘revolving fund’ basis, with the proceeds generated by one project being used to form the working capital for the next.

Nowadays, the Trust undertakes a wide variety of projects, owns a number of historic buildings, and provides project management and consultancy services to Aberdeenshire Council and community groups. It has been involved in over 50 projects since 1985 and is currently working on more projects across the north-east of Scotland, including in Cullen, Cluny, Fraserburgh, Kinloss, and Portsoy. 

Spotlight Project: Portsoy Marble Creative Hub

Image: Portsoy Marble Warehouse. Credit: North East Scotland Preservation Trust.

In 2020, NESPT was left 10 historic buildings in Portsoy and Whitehills on the north Aberdeenshire coast, along with a financial legacy, by the late Tom Burnett-Stuart. This generous gift has focused the Trust’s activities on the historic harbour town of Portsoy, where it now owns and manages the Portsoy Marble Shop and two holiday cottages.

The Trust is about to start the development phase of the Portsoy Marble Creative Hub project. This will bring back into use two semi-derelict Category A and B listed warehouse buildings at the 16th-century harbour into studios and workspaces for artists and craftspeople, building upon the creative legacy of the Portsoy marble and pottery industries.

In January 2026, the NESPT was awarded grant funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop Phase 1 of the Creative Hub project, which will focus on the Category A listed former Marble Warehouse designed by John Adam in 1765.

Image: Portsoy Boat Festival. Credit: North East Scotland Preservation Trust.

With the help of the AHF’s Heritage Development Trusts (HDTs) programme - made possible by a strategic partnership with The National Lottery Heritage Fund - NESPT is now working towards financial sustainability. The programme is supporting the preparation work to bring the Creative Hub project to its development phase, as well as contributing to the additional staff needed to deliver this important project.

For further information, please visit the NESPT website.