Town Centre Fund

[Tom B]

More funding available here...

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built ... ntres/tcrf

[Kintyre Forum News]

Council have applied for further funding from this.

Currently there is a scheme in Campbeltown - CARS (think it is Campbeltown Area Regeneration Scheme) which has the following funding;

Historic Scotland £385,000
Council £200,000
HIE £100,000

Also, just announced is that the THI bid to lottery fund has finally been approved for the £700,000. This unlocks the £300,000 council match funding (not £30k as per Courier the other wk). Campbeltown is the first project in any town to get some of the £30M CHORD money. Plus £150,000 European Leader funding that is already approved.

[mrn]

Does anyone know what the plans are for all of this funding?

[Kintyre Forum News]

Does anyone know what the plans are for all of this funding?

A little bit of information on the project can be found at

http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/content/p ... ectbranch/

Numero Dix is nearing completion - looks cracking and James at the CARS project advises McKellars and The Garden Shop are in line next.

Some of the new funding will go to specific buildings like the Old Schoolhouse on Lorne Street, The Old Post Office etc

[Kintyre Forum News]

News release on this at http://www.scottisharchitecture.com/new ... ment+boost

Argyll towns receive £2.25 million investment boost

The Heritage Lottery Fund has today announced a £2.25m investment for two Argyll town centres. Rothesay has been earmarked funding of £1.5m and awarded development funding of £50,000 while Campbeltown received a grant of £700,000. The awards were made as part of HLF’s Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

The Townscape Heritage Initiative is a unique approach to urban regeneration and sustainable development using heritage as the catalyst. Run-down areas are regenerated by repairing and giving new uses to historic buildings, making them more appealing places to invest, work and live in. To date HLF has invested over £30million in 26 town centres across Scotland, levering many millions more in partnership funding and bringing real economic benefit to the towns.

Rothesay

The most popular Scottish holiday resort of the 1930’s, Rothesay on Bute was visited by tens of thousands of holidaymakers who travelled ‘doon the watter’ every year by paddle-steamer. However, changing holiday patterns and consistent depopulation has taken the shine off its Victorian seaside glamour. Dereliction and demolition has left prominent gap sites, raw gable ends and frontages in poor repair.

The THI focuses on the heart of the town, Guildford Square, adjacent to the Rothesay’s medieval royal castle. Numerous regeneration projects will be undertaken to improve the area making it a more attractive place for visitors to stay.

Campbeltown

Campbeltown was set up by an act of Parliament in 1609 and was one of the most successful ‘planted towns’. It thrived during the 19th century as an industrial town of some significance with successful shipbuilding, fishing and whisky industries, and in 1900 had the highest per capita income in Scotland. This prosperity is reflected in the many Edwardian and Victorian villas in the town

Sadly, since the 1920’s the town has been in decline through a combination of failing industry and its remoteness. It now suffers from unemployment levels which are twice the British average. The THI scheme includes the restoration of the Town Hall so that it can once again be a focus for community life and the derelict Old Schoolhouse which will be repaired and restored as a hostel for tourists.

Commenting from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Colin McLean, said:

"Looking after our heritage is an incredibly effective way of supporting community life generally. This is recognised in today’s Government strategy for improving quality of place. Serious investment like this goes well beyond looking after the bricks and mortar of a building, bringing with it substantial social and economic benefits too.

“Our research shows that these schemes can really help turn local economies around, not only by improving how run-down historic towns look and feel, but also by prompting business start-ups and creating new jobs. This investment means that more town centres will enjoy the far-reaching benefits of this highly successful initiative.

“We are delighted to be able to work with Argyll and Bute Council in revitalising the historic core of Rothesay and Campbeltown. Today is a step towards a brighter future for these communities.”

Argyll and Bute Council Leader Dick Walsh said: “This is excellent news, not only for Campbeltown and Rothesay but for the whole of Argyll and Bute. This funding represents a huge boost to plans for the regeneration of our town centres and complements capital investments already made or earmarked for future developments.

“Against all the odds, the economic future of our area is looking positive, and the council’s decision to invest in that future during a time of recession is already beginning to bear fruit, attracting both public and private investment. Planning for the regeneration and development of our towns is now well underway and we are clear about what it is we are wanting to achieve and how we are going to achieve it.

“However, in planning for the future, the legacy of our architecture and its history must be preserved. Monies from the Heritage Lottery Fund will help us to ensure that the unique character of each of our towns is not lost.”