Argyll and Bute Council’s project to redevelop Rothesay Pavilion was boosted last week with the news that the £900,000 application to the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) will be progressed to the second stage.

The RCGF has been developed by the Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA and local authorities. It provides financial support to projects that will help to deliver large-scale improvements to deprived areas. It focuses on projects that engage and involve local communities and those that can demonstrate the ability to deliver sustainable regeneration outcomes.

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund Investment Panel met on 13 June 2014 to consider 97 applications for the 2015/16 funding round, with requests totalling £94m.

The available funding budget for projects is £14,4m. Given the number of applications the panel were clear that they would only consider applications which were able to demonstrate that they meet the specific funding criteria of the fund, as well as its wider aims.

The closing date for the submission of second stage applications is 8 September 2014.

The plans for the pavilion will be submitted for planning and listed building consent shortly, with illustrations of the design available for public viewing in the pavilion over the course of the summer.