Dunoon Town Centre Investment

Dunoon’s CRP funding aims to breathe fresh life into the town centre by stimulating a range of investments in business and leisure properties.

This first phase of support from the Community Regeneration Partnership Fund is a new grant scheme aimed at investing £200,000 by March 2027 to support a small number of project interventions.

How do I get involved?

We are inviting businesses to complete an Expression of Interest form, to notify us of project proposals that require funding.

Expression of Interest Form >

Alternatively, please email daniel.macintyre@argyll-bute.gov.uk to discuss the scheme.

The scheme is designed to:

Bring vacant and under used buildings back into productive use

Empty and under‑utilised buildings represent one of the greatest opportunities for Dunoon town centre regeneration. Vacant properties and unused upper floors can detract from the vitality of the town centre.

Business support grants may be available for:

Viable reuse of vacant town centre properties, buildings or upper floors
Conversion of unused or under‑used upper floors into tourism or residential accommodation
Mixed‑use developments that combine ground‑floor commercial activity with upper‑floor living or working space

Enhance shopfronts in Dunoon’s Conservation Area

Dunoon’s conservation area is central to the town’s character and identity. The quality of shopfronts, signage, and building frontages plays a vital role in shaping first impressions for residents, visitors, and potential investors.

This scheme supports sensitive, high‑quality shopfront enhancements that respect the historic character of the conservation area while supporting modern, viable businesses.

Business support grants may be available for:

Restoration or reinstatement of traditional shopfront features
Removal of inappropriate alterations
Improvement of signage and lighting

Well‑designed shopfronts help create a welcoming town centre encouraging footfall, supporting local businesses, and reinforcing Dunoon’s identity as a distinctive coastal town.

Support town centre tourism accommodation

Tourism is a vital part of Dunoon’s economy, and the town centre plays a key role in how visitors experience the place. This funding scheme actively encourages the creation of high‑quality tourism accommodation within the town centre, helping visitors stay longer, spend locally, and experience Dunoon.

Business support grants can assist re-purposing of vacant or under‑used buildings into:

Small‑scale hotels or guesthouses
Aparthotel
Serviced apartments

By increasing town‑centre accommodation, we support local shops, cafés, restaurants, and community enterprises — ensuring the benefits of tourism are shared across the local economy, all year round.

These targeted interventions will create spaces that meet local needs and enhance the overall experience, encouraging longer visits and greater use of Dunoon’s town centre.

Who will the scheme benefit?

Individuals or businesses that want to invest in property to aid work-life balance or support workforce development.
New or existing businesses looking to relocate or expand into Dunoon
Property owners willing to repurpose or improve vacant or under‑used buildings
Landlords committed to investing in residential or visitor accommodation

By working together, we can explore how to support your project and bring more people, more activity, and more confidence back into Dunoon town centre.

The timeline for applications for this funding is as follows:

Expressions of interest and applications

Stage 1

Launch: week beginning 6th July 2026
Deadline for initial expressions of interest: 31st July 2026
Deadline for scoring and feedback: 28th August 2026

Processing expressions of interest

All EOI’s will be assessed by a multi-disciplinary panel
A number of projects will be selected to progress to the next stage. If successful you will be given a letter of funding in principle (subject to you meeting all of the conditions and timescales etc)
We reserve to right to withdraw the principle support if you cannot demonstrate progress within our timeframe.
We will reallocate the funding to the next highest scoring project.

Stage 2

Deadline for all full applications: 27th November 2026

This enables all applicants to complete design work, seek consents and secure finance, or prospective tenants
Grant awards will be issued upon receipt of all necessary supporting evidence re: design, consents, financials and agreed timelines of delivery.