A Scottish Government minister has marked the official start of work on the first phase of major redevelopment at Midsteeple Quarter in Dumfries.
Planning and Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur visited the town centre regeneration project yesterday as he announced £3.4m of support from Holyrood towards the £7.2m transformation of the former Baker’s Oven.
The disused site at 135-139 High Street is being turned into new homes and business units by the community-owned enterprise Midsteeple Quarter.
Years of campaigning and fundraising to bring the former Baker’s Oven and four other buildings into community ownership has enabled the project to reach this point.
The funding package supporting the first major phase of work is made up of £3,460,000 from the Scottish Government, nearly £2.2m from South of Scotland Enterprise, more than £900,000 from the council, £350,000 from the Holywood Trust and £300,000 from Dumfries High Street Limited (trading as Midsteeple Quarter).
Mr Arthur said: “I welcome this project to bring vacant buildings at Midsteeple Quarter back into use as housing and other sustainable solutions to meet the town’s needs and interests. It is already helping people to live well locally.
“Innovative projects like this demonstrate the powerful role communities can have in helping transform their town centres and neighbourhoods by investing in their future.”
The construction project is expected to take about 18 months to complete.
South of Scotland Enterprise chairman Russel Griggs said: “This is another huge milestone for Midsteeple Quarter and the transformation of Dumfries town centre.
“The project has reached this stage thanks to the hard work of the Midsteeple Quarter team, the input of the Dumfries public and support of public, private and third sector organisations.”
Councillor Katie Hagmann added: “I’m delighted to see the first phase of this valuable regeneration project progressing.
“It is important to not only preserve our historic environment, but to improve the area, which will encourage new businesses and boost footfall in our town centres.”
Karen Ward Boyd, director of The Holywood Trust, said: “The initiative is ground-breaking and will start to change the way we as a community use the town centre.
“I hope this is the rebirth of Dumfries as a modern, relevant, and thriving place for us all to live, work and socialise. The best bit of all is that this project has grown from the roots of the community and is driven by the local people.”
Midsteeple Quarter chairman, Peter Kormylo, thanked the funders for their support.
He said: “We are incredibly proud of the progress that the people of Dumfries have made to get us to this stage and extremely grateful to everyone supporting us financially for the faith they are showing in helping turn the ambitions of townsfolk into a reality.
“It is an important moment for the town to see work get underway. But there is a great deal more that we hope to achieve as we pursue the vision that residents have for Midsteeple Quarter.
“A lot of eyes are upon us as we demonstrate how community ownership can deliver a stronger, fairer, more sustainable future.”
Planning permission for the transformation of the former Baker’s Oven was granted in 2020.
It will see the building transformed and extended, creating enterprise space at ground level and part of the first floor as well as seven flats on its upper floors.
The homes will be available to rent at an affordable-to-mid-market rate.
