Dunoon public realm will undergo a £1.08m enhancement thanks to its share of a £20million commitment from the UK Government’s Community Regeneration Partnership Fund (CRPF) to multiple projects in Argyll and Bute.
Phase one of the project is the Dunoon Town Centre Investment Scheme which will see £200,000 invested by March 2027.
The CRPF funding for Dunoon offers a unique opportunity to invests in tackling some of the priorities identified in Dunoon and Kirn Local Place Plan, including key proposals to:
- Enhance the streetscape and provide higher quality business space;
- Continue to provide grants for businesses to improve shopfronts and repair premises in line with conservation guidance and business needs;
- Projects focused on attracting families, young people, visitors, and the ‘pedestrian pound’ to our shops and cultural venues;
- Inspire residents, particularly young people and families, to come into town, take a walk and help our vital shops and businesses to thrive; and
- Place-based enterprise support within Dunoon.
The Dunoon Town Centre Investment Scheme aims to:
- Bring vacant and under‑used buildings back into productive use;
- Enhance shopfronts in Dunoon’s Conservation Area; and
- Support the delivery of town centre tourism or residential accommodation.
By investing in properties, workspaces and accommodation, the scheme aims to create a town centre that is attractive to:
- Home‑based workers;
- Small businesses and start‑ups;
- Creative and professional service; and
- People who want to live in or visit the town centre for business or leisure.
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; and
- Landlords committed to investing in residential or visitor accommodation.
The new investment scheme will support on-going regeneration and complements the significant investment by Argyll and Bute Council and key stakeholders to date, including: CHORD – Queen’s Hall and Dunoon Pier; Dunoon CARS 2017-2022; shopfront improvement grants; and other funding schemes.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Policy Lead for Business Development, said: “Dunoon has always been a town with potential; a strong community, exceptional natural surroundings, and a history as a place where people come to live, work, and thrive.
“Dunoon’s Town Centre Investment Scheme aims to breathe fresh life into the town centre by stimulating targeted interventions to create spaces that meet local needs and enhance the overall experience, encouraging longer visits and greater use of Dunoon’s town centre.”
Dunoon will also benefit from Crown Estates funding.
We are inviting businesses to complete our Business Funding Enquiry Form, if they are interested in taking part in the scheme.
Alternatively, please email Daniel McIntyre to express an interest in this scheme or to discuss any projects.
