Tarbert is just one of the town centres to benefit from £7 million of National Lottery Heritage Fund investment to help revitalise and breathe new life into historic buildings in need, helping boost local economies while strengthening connections between communities and the heritage on their doorstep.
The funding – part of the Heritage Places programme - is designed to deliver a breadth of benefits: saving significant built heritage, revitalising high streets, improving shopfronts, creating sustainable tourism opportunities and increasing heritage skills.
Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme has received £850,000. Plans include returning 10 vacant properties to residential use, repairing historic fishermen’s store buildings on the quayside, restoring shopfronts and delivering community heritage events and traditional skills training for young people. There will also be a programme of community events celebrating the rich heritage and traditions of the town.
This is the first Heritage and Place Programme for Argyll and Bute. The project will be very similar to a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), and to date, the delivery of eight CARS projects has realised a cumulative regeneration investment of £27m in some of Argyll and Bute’s key town centres.
Councillor Math Campbell Sturgess, Policy Lead for Business Development, said: “I am delighted that we have been successful in securing this funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. We are committed to protecting Argyll and Bute’s historic built environment and this project places our heritage at the heart of community renewal, helping our local spaces thrive while protecting the character that makes Tarbert so special.
“By restoring and safeguarding these historic buildings, we’re not only preserving our past but also creating new opportunities for the community to flourish. Enhancing these much‑loved landmarks will support local pride, encourage sustainable use of our shared spaces, and strengthen the village’s appeal for both residents and visitors. I look forward to seeing this project bring lasting benefits for people across the area - now and for future generations.”
Eilish McGuinness, Chief Executive, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “This marks an exciting moment, with fantastic investments in places that connect communities with their heritage gems. From Glasgow’s iconic Sauchiehall Street, a place woven into decades of shared memories, to transforming the oldest public library in Scotland to celebrate the stories, people and places that shape us.
“Understanding how communities feel about their heritage is vital to meaningful regeneration, and we’re proud to invest in four exceptional places where historic buildings will be restored and repurposed for everyone to enjoy, now and for generations.
“Thanks to National Lottery players over the last 30 years, we’ve invested over £1bn in 5,100 projects in Scotland ensuring heritage is valued, cared for and sustained. These projects will boost wellbeing, create learning opportunities for young people and make heritage a powerful driver of local pride and prosperity.”
A funding bid for the project has also been submitted to Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage and Place Programme (HES) and the Council has also allocated funding to the scheme.
