It has been a busy few months for the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative with works being carried out on several town centre buildings.

One of the main projects is the Old School in Big Kiln Street. This B-listed property is undergoing major repair and conservation works to bring it back into use as a bunkhouse to provide visitor accommodation. The building has been lying empty since the 1980’s and is in an advanced state of disrepair. The building’s owners, the Kintyre Amenity Trust (KAT) hope to open for business early 2012.

Work is also continuing on Main Street with the flats at 27 to 31 getting a make-over. Custom made sash and case windows have been installed and the building is due to be painted very soon. 

Further along at 60 Main Street the entire building is being refurbished in partnership with Argyll and Bute Council’s private sector housing grant team. Works include; re-roofing, leadwork, replacement rainwater goods and window and door refurbishments.  In addition, the entire Main Street elevation is being painted with high quality mineral paint. 

Another huge step forward for the THI is the approval of £30,000 funding towards the refurbishment of the Royal Hotel. This project will deliver a four star hotel in the town centre.  The overall cost of this renovation project is in excess of £2.8 million and the developers hope to have work completed before the New Year.

Other works recently completed include a number of shopfront restorations bringing the total to 17.  These include the Winehouse and 1a, 1b and 3 Longrow.  Some small grant works have been carried out including the refurbishment and reinstatement of timber sash and case windows in five properties.

The vast majority of the THI work has been carried out by local contractors – a welcome boost to Campbeltown given the current economic climate.

Councillor Rory Colville Chair of the CHORD project board in Campbeltown said, “Argyll and Bute Council is investing heavily in Campbeltown through our CHORD project and the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is key element of this.

“A great deal of work has been carried out over the past few years with over 50 buildings benefiting from THI and CARS funding.  I am delighted to now see significant progress with the larger projects such as the Old School and Royal Hotel.

“In these difficult times it is encouraging to see local companies carrying out the works that will secure the future of Campbeltown’s historic buildings for years to come. I am delighted that the work of the THI is having such a positive impact on the town and look forward to seeing this continue for the next few years.”

You can keep up-to-date with the progress on all of the THI projects on their blog on the council’s website at http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/category/blogs/campbeltown-thi

Editor’s notes

·        The THI is part of Argyll and Bute Council’s Campbeltown CHORD Project. It is a £2 million grant funded heritage project that aims to provide a sustainable economic future for Campbeltown Town Centre that recognises the value of its built heritage, whilst making the town a more attractive place to live, work and visit.  The main funder is the Heritage Lottery Fund, followed by Argyll and Bute Council, Argyll and the Islands LEADER and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  The THI also incorporates the Historic Scotland funded Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), project officer James Lafferty administers both schemes.  In addition to this other funding has also been secured from a variety of sources.

·        Since 2007 over 70 grants totalling £650,000 have been approved resulting in works to over 50 town centre buildings including tenements, shopfronts and community halls etc.   With property owners own contributions being taken into account over £4 million will be invested in town centre property.  There is over £800,000 grant funding still available, however, this has been ring-fenced for Campbeltown Town Hall and several vacant tenement buildings.