The £1 million building refurbishment will be carried out on behalf of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and is estimated to take nine months.

Peterhead sheriff clerk Tracey MacDonald said: “We are pleased to have the work commence on the court. This will improve the look of the building and contribute to the aesthetics of the town.

“The community have been very patient in awaiting the start of these works and will now start to see a difference in the building and we can continue to provide an excellent service to our customers in pleasant surroundings.”

SCTS director of property and services, David Currie, added: “We appreciate the local community’s patience while we put together this substantial investment in Peterhead Sheriff and JP Court. It illustrates our long term commitment to provide excellent court facilities in the town.”

Further external works include an extension to the car park, soft landscaping, replacement gates and fencing. Internally there will be electrical and heating upgrading and fresh decoration.

Safety scaffolding previously erected will remain in place until the building works are completed. This will allow court business to continue without interruption.

Michael Scanlan, director at Clark Contracts, said: “We are looking forward to starting on site at Peterhead to deliver this project for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service.”

As part of its inclusion on the Principal Contractor Framework for building refurbishment works and projects, Clark Contracts will deliver planned refurbishment works and projects across SCTS’s estate which comprises of over 70 buildings including courts, offices and witness suites.