Old linen factory to become flats after flooding fears dismissed

Scottish Ministers have given the green light for the conversion of Arbroath’s historic Baltic Mill into flats.

Built in 1861 as a linen weaving factory, the mill was owned by town businessman Andrew Lowson but ended up on the market following some ill-judged overseas investments by Lowson’s sons following his death.

By 1905 only one of them was still at work and, in 1948, the firm was wound up, with Baltic Works finding a new role as a whisky bond.

The property lay empty for three decades until Angus Council’s development standards committee recently approved proposals for 24 new flats on the Dens Road site.

Cullross Developments, which specialises in affordable housing, took on the development for its client, Hillcrest Housing Association.

However, the bid faced an objection from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency over concerns about the potential flooding risk from the nearby Brothock Burn.

Angus officials dismissed the fears, saying the property’s construction style meant its floor level was higher than the projected flood risk.

The application was unanimously approved by councillors, but required ratification by Scottish Ministers.

At their meeting in Forfar yesterday, development standards committee members heard the council had received confirmation the application would not be called in by ministers.

The building is one of the few remaining examples of the town’s industrial history and was given A-listed status in 2003.