Beaver Bridges has been successful in the tendering process and will undertake the options appraisal and outline design of the proposed replacement. This will be used to inform the business case required to secure Scottish Government funding.

Subject to the funding being secured, the council will progress the project to the next phase – design and build of the new bridge.

Both the council and contractor will work with the local community – and in particular with the Lossiemouth Community Development Trust, which is part-funding the first phase of the project – to deliver the replacement bridge.

Councillor Shona Morrison, convener of Moray Council, said: “I’m pleased to hear the contract for the first phase of work has been awarded. Locals in Lossiemouth, and the many visitors to the town, will be thrilled to hear that plans for the replacement bridge are moving forward, and I look forward to hearing how the work progresses.”

A spokesperson for the Lossiemouth Community Development Trust added: “The LCDT is delighted to hear that Beaver Bridges has been chosen to carry out stage one, the options appraisal, of the bridge project. We look forward to working with the company, Moray Council and the Scottish Government to help move the project forward as speedily as possible.”