Funding worth £1.24m for projects in Helensburgh town centre was announced today.
The burgh is one of four ‘historic communities across Scotland’ which will benefit from a combined investment of £4.5m from Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
The funding, awarded as part of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), will be shared between four conservation areas to help them regenerate and attract further investment in the future.
Each scheme will include a combination of larger building repair projects, small grants schemes providing funding for repairs to privately-owned properties, community engagement and education activities, and professional training activities and opportunities.
The aim is to contribute to sustainable economic and community development in the conservation area and the schemes, managed by local councils, will last for five years with works starting in April.
Today’s announcement said that in Helensburgh it was proposed to repair ‘at least three priority projects across Colquhoun Street, East Clyde Street and West Clyde Street’ in the newly designated Helensburgh conservation area.
It did not indicate which projects or properties these would be, but last year council officials highlighted the end of a row of tenement blocks on East Princes Street, and two empty sites on Colquhoun Street.
The announcement did say that the scheme would: “Also improve links between the waterfront and the town centre, and through the repair of properties on the waterfront, make the area more attractive for people to spend time.”
Alex Paterson, chief executive of HES, said: “This round of CARS marks a very important milestone for the scheme in that over £50m has been invested in more than 70 conservation areas in Scotland.
“Through CARS, communities are supported and empowered to harness their valuable heritage assets. Decisions are made on a local level and local authorities can prioritise key properties for investment.
“The impact that Covid-19 has had on town and city centres – with more people than ever now working from home and the rise of online shopping due to the closure of shops – shows just how important schemes such as CARS are in revitalising and regenerating our high streets.
“By bringing historic buildings back into use and providing crucial repairs, high streets are transformed, new employment opportunities are created, and tourism is increased, demonstrating the significant effect that our historic environment has on our towns, cities and villages.
“Heritage-led regeneration has proven to have long-term benefits and I look forward to seeing the positive impact that these projects in Dumfries, Dunbar, Helensburgh and Stirling have on the people that live and work in these historic places.”
CARS was launched in 2007 to encourage councils to invest in their historic environment by repairing and restoring the built environment whilst helping to stimulate economic regeneration.
Since then, more than 40 CARS schemes have been completed, with the funding supporting the creation of over 600 jobs and more than 270 new businesses, while almost 50,000m2 of vacant space has been brought back into use.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “It is vital that we continue to protect and conserve our heritage.
“Now more than ever we are all increasingly aware of our local surroundings and attractions and the important role they play in our health and well-being as well as in the heart of our communities.
“This scheme has already helped transform conservation areas across Scotland, reinvigorating communities and supporting economic and social regeneration. I look forward to seeing how this new support helps transform even more of our historic high streets.”
Alastair Redman, Argyll and Bute Council’s policy lead for business, regeneration and commercial development, said the news was ‘fantastic’.
He added: “We are committed to stimulating the local economy and making our town centres attractive places to live, work and visit. Now more than ever, investment is needed to help our communities recover from the impact of the pandemic.
“The council has a successful track record of using heritage as a key driver for regeneration by safeguarding our town centres, creating local employment opportunities and transforming properties and buildings.
“The announcement of the funding award is the latest investment secured by the council for Helensburgh, building on previous improvements to the public realm, restoration of Hermitage Park and ongoing work at the Helensburgh waterfront.
“We hope to build on this success and further enhance the town’s vibrancy.”
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