RSS Press releases

Even before COVID-19 affected our High Streets and local businesses, this Council was working on regenerating our town centres to support long term, sustainable, economic growth.

 The Council’s Town Centre Living Fund (TCLF) allocates funding support to enable high quality and affordable housing to attract people to town centre living, restoring the vibrancy, increasing footfall, and boosting the economy of our local hubs. It also helps to lower carbon emissions by providing homes within easy access of services and employment, reducing the need for travel and car ownership, supporting the Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration Action Plan.

 Members of the Council’s Economy and Resources Committee (15 September) will be asked to agree funding for two projects:

 If agreed, the allocation of £70,000 from the 2020/21 Town Centre Living Fund to the All Roads Lead to Whithorn (ARLTW) charitable trust will enable the regeneration of The Former Grapes Hotel to provide 2 affordable family homes. This will bring back into good use, the derelict hotel which is listed as category C on the Buildings At Risk Register for Scotland and is within the Whithorn Conservation Area. The ARLTW have taken on a community development role for the project and have already secured the acquisition of the building. They continue to engage with the community to create solutions in line with local needs and aspirations. Following a local survey, 86% of respondents identified a need for more affordable housing.

 Also before Members, the request for an allocation of £155,000 from Loreburn Housing Association to support and enhance the Strategic Housing Investment Plan project at Academy Street, Castle Douglas. This would regenerate a brownfield site by delivering 23 flatted homes for older people. It is well located for access to local facilities and services and five of the ground floor flats will be suitable for wheelchair users. The allocation of £155,000 sought by Loreburn Housing Association from the TCLF will support total investment of around £5.6million.

 Chair of Economy and Resources Committee, Rob Davidson said: “This Council has previously agreed the budget allocations and criteria for the 2020/21 Town Centre Living Fund, funded from Council Tax on second homes income. I’m pleased to note that this approach to increase housing in town centres has received national praise and recognition. We have acted quickly and are now starting to see the rewards as funding is allocated.”

 Vice Chair, Archie Dryburgh said: “Our town centres are the hub of our communities and we will do all that we can to regenerate them and help adapt our high streets so that they are fit for local purposes and lifestyles. This funding will not only provide much needed housing, but will also improve the look, and bring back into use, of some of the more neglected buildings in our towns.”