RENOVATION WORK is nearing completion at Dunkeld’s old doctor’s surgery, transforming it into a “sustainable” office space for WWF Scotland’s 19 employees.

The decision to relocate, after 20 years in Aberfeldy, was taken as the conservation organisation’s office expanded and transport needs grew, with access to rail links becoming an increasing issue.

But WWF Scotland remained loyal to highland Perthshire, deciding to move only 20 miles away, thus retaining its roots and employment in the area.

As with any charitable organisation, the budget for the Dunkeld office renovation was an essential consideration, but equally important to them was creating a practical, sustainable office space.

It is a sizeable project and some compromises had to be made but the result will be an office that it is hoped will demonstrate how sustainable renovations do not need to break the bank, nor are they the sole reserve of new buildings.

Decisions in the first phase of renovation have included recycling all building materials that had to be removed from the site, including wood and furniture, using sheep’s wool for insulation rather than glass wool and sourcing all new wood from sustainably managed forests.

Further down the line the office decoration will aim for minimum environmental impact by using paint that does not emit volatile organic compounds and floor coverings that are made using natural materials.

Director of WWF Scotland, Dr Richard Dixon, said, “The old doctor’s surgery is a lovely, traditional building and WWF wanted to preserve the character of that interior and exterior as far as possible, in keeping with the historical integrity of Dunkeld.

“The sustainability aspects of the renovation are very exciting and demonstrate that being environmentally friendly need not cost the earth, in fact the opposite.

“Of course some compromises needed to be made in the renovation work, but WWF hopes that at the end of this project we will have an office that can demonstrate where small decisions can make huge differences to the sustainability of a building’s renovation.”

A mature laburnum tree removed to accommodate a new storage shed will be replaced by three or four smaller native trees.

There will be an open day at the end of September where local residents and other interested parties will be invited to view the interior of the building. The full story of the renovation will be on the WWF Scotland website (www.wwfscotland.org. uk) from the end of September.