A £5 million project to redevelop the old primary school building in Dalbeattie has moved a step forward.
Dalbeattie Community Initiative wants to turn the premises into an outdoor sports centre called Rocks and Wheels.
And Stewartry area committee yesterday agreed to hand the building over to the initiative for a nominal £1 fee.
The school building has been empty since primary pupils moved to Dalbeattie Learning Campus in 2017.
The Initiative wants to redevelop it to include a training and education centre, hostel, bouldering centre, cafe and mountainbike pump track.
Business manager Michelle McRobert said recently: “We are aiming to complete the detailed design plan by early 2023.
“That should allow us to start demolishing the newer annexes and begin the capital build by spring 2024 – that’s our target date.
“Once the centre is complete, we estimate there will be 23 jobs initially with five of those being apprenticeships for young people.”
A report for yesterday’s meeting by ward officer Kimberly Phillips revealed the building is worth £325,000 and it had been suggested the initiative find funding to pay the full amount.
However, the benefits to the community, a listed building element of the site and contaminated land issues meant that they felt the £1 fee was appropriate.
The Initiative claims the project would provide a variety of boosts in the area including creating a destination centre for visitors, help in regenerating the local economy and promoting a healthier lifestyle.
The report noted there is strong community support for the project but warned that the council will receive a minimal amount for an asset worth £325,000.
But it also pointed out there has been no other interest in the building and the building still costs the local authority more than £4,500 in rates a year.
Councillors agreed to transfer the building to the initiative for £1 on the condition that the initiative has raised the £2.5 million needed for the first phase of work before the handover is concluded.
The asset transfer will now go to the council’s finance, procurement and transformation committee to be rubber stamped.
