Since purchasing the estate in 2022, owners Chris and Camille Bently have undertaken an ambitious programme of property restoration including tenanted and employee properties, holiday cottages, farmhouses and farm buildings. Many tenant properties are undergoing complete renovations from the ground up, four holiday cottages have been completely renovated in the last six months and all recently acquired ‘in-hand’ farms have undergone sympathetic renovation. The programme of renovation has made a significant economic contribution to the local community and surrounding area through direct employment and use of local suppliers and tradespeople. Several local businesses have expanded and developed as a direct result of the works.
All properties are environmentally surveyed before any work is undertaken. The estate always aims to use traditional methods and materials on all its property renovations – local slate and Aberdeenshire stone quarried on the estate. While many tenant properties are undergoing complete renovations from the ground up, all tenanted properties are having new windows and doors installed (double glazed with 3-point locking systems). The approach focuses on sensitive renovation, bringing properties up to modern building and energy efficiency standards, while embracing the history of the buildings and their setting on the estate.
90% of contractors involved live within a 15-mile catchment of the estate. The aim is to install green sources in the properties whenever possible, including solar, biomass, wind and ground source heat pumps. There has been close engagement with all tenants throughout the process; several properties with long-standing tenants were in extremely poor condition and this has involved significant upheaval requiring the estate team to work with the utmost sensitivity to accommodate the requirements of tenants whenever possible.
In 2023, the estate completed a total refurbishment of the Kildrummy Inn (Double AA Rosette Restaurant), a key attraction which brings many tourists to the area. The owners and estate team worked closely with the incumbent tenants (the Littlewood family) to design and plan the renovation and supported them while the business had to close for renovation works.
The estate is currently building a communal 20m polytunnel for local use as well as working in conjunction with a local community group to plant flowers and plants into derelict farm buildings to revitalise these properties.