Together with funding secured from additional sources, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economic Development Capital Programme (EDCP) 2023/24 to 2025/26 comprises over £36million of capital investment for our region’s economy.
The EDCP is a rolling three-year programme of investment in economic development and place-based regeneration projects of a capital nature. It is frequently boosted with external funding.
Members of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy and Resources Committee will be asked to:
• Agree that Stage 1 submissions to the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund 2024/25 should be prepared and submitted for the Kelloholm Skills and Innovation Centre Project, and the Let’s Get Sporty Lochvale House Expansion Project.
• Agree that a submission should be prepared for the Annan Harbour Regeneration project to the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme 2024/25.
The Economic Development Capital Programme of investment has been targeted at the regeneration of vacant sites and premises in many of our region’s town and village centres, with priority status being given to investment in projects at Stranraer, Dumfries, Annan, Upper Nithsdale and Langholm. In addition to this, capital investment has also been targeted at supporting business expansion and growth to enable job creation to take place.
A key aim of the Community Led Economic Regeneration Fund (CLERF) is to fund the development costs of projects to a stage of technical readiness to pursue external funding.
In 2022/23 projects supported through CLERF included:
• Annan Harbour Regeneration Project
• Dalbeattie Rocks & Wheels Project
• Thornhill Old School Project
• Let’s Get Sporty Lochvale House Expansion Project
• Carsphairn Rural Skills Centre Project
A key aim of the CLERF is to fund the development costs of projects to a stage of technical readiness to pursue external funding.
As a result of CLERF funding, two projects have been developed to a stage that enabled them to be targeted for UK Government Levelling Up Fund (the Annan and Dalbeattie projects) while the Thornhill project was able to secure Regeneration Capital Grant Funding in 2022/23. In addition to this, technical development work on the Let’s Get Sporty Lochvale House project has been progressed and the project is now being brought forward for approval by E&R Committee.
Chair of Economy and Resources Committee, Councillor Carruthers said: “The proposed capital allocations will enable the development and delivery of a portfolio of development programmes and projects that will deliver economic benefits for our communities across the region. The projects increase the need for traditional skills, particularly when restoring our heritage buildings, and therefore boost employment.”
Vice Chair, Councillor David Inglis said: “This funding is going to communities who are best placed to identify where it is most needed. These projects, along with Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme also identified in the report, are helping to restore our historic landmarks and buildings, and also bringing unused properties back into community use, while also improving the look of our towns and villages.”
