A former bank in Ayrshire has been sold to a group dedicated to supporting the region’s former mining areas.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) has purchased the former Royal Bank of Scotland branch in Dalmellington Main Street.
Now the plan is to turn the building into the group’s new hub for community work in the town.
Refurbishment work will start in the summer and a re-opening is scheduled for early 2023.
Nicky Wilson, Vice Chair of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to invest in the Dalmellington community with the purchase and refurbishment of the former bank.
“This will help to regenerate the centre of the town and provide co-working facilities to build opportunity and prosperity for local people.
“We are proud to be part of the many different projects happening in East Ayrshire’s former mining communities and look forward to working in partnership with them.”
It’s not been disclosed how much was paid to secure the building, but the former branch was on the market in September 2021 for a price tag of £59,500.
RBS closed the popular branch six years ago during a cost-cutting exercise.
Also set to move into the building is the Dalmellington Parish Development Trust, a group dedicated to working towards regenerating the local area for the benefit of the community and visitors.
Rae Smith, director of the Dalmellington Parish Development Trust said: “I’m delighted that the Coalfields Regeneration Trust have secured the purchase of the former RBS branch on the Main Street of Dalmellington.
“This prominent long-standing building will now have a new life housing the Dalmellington Parish Development Trust office, this will enable the Trust to play a crucial role in the regeneration of Dalmellington Parish.”
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust will be keeping people in Dalmellington updated as the project moves forward.
Anyone with any further interest in this development can contact the CRT on crt.hub@coalfields-regen.org.uk
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