Posted Thursday, 19th January 2023

We are excited to announce that the redevelopment of Lockerbie Old School has taken a huge leap forward with the news that the Scottish Government is recommending that D&G Council receive £2.6 million funding for our project!

It has been a long 10 years in the making for us, but its finally time to raise a glass and celebrate as the Lockerbie Old School project (LOS) finally has the 100% funding needed to kick start the development of the former 145-year-old primary school! 

With the Scottish Government’s recent announcement that they will invest £27 million towards supporting the regeneration of town centres by bringing derelict buildings back to life for community use, we are set to receive the second highest amount of a whopping £2.63 million to help fund our town centre’s ambitious project. This includes a top up originally granted to DG Council of £775,000 in November 2021. 

With the final funding now in place, we will be able to create a facility that provides space for a wide range of activities which will provide employment, volunteering, educational and social opportunities for the people of Lockerbie and the surrounding area including Lochmaben, Eaglesfield and Ecclefechan. The main work is set to begin in May this year and we aim to be ready to open our doors to the public in the summer of 2024 with a diary full of exciting events.

Chair of LOS Jackie Moffat said: “I cannot begin to tell you how excited myself and my fellow trustees are with the news that the council have secured the £2.63 million funding for us. This marks a historic point in our journey, because as a result we have now achieved 100% of the £5.1 million we need to bring the dream we have had since 2013 to reality.”

The Group Chief Executive of Cunninghame Housing Association, Frank Sweeney, said: “This is phenomenal news for Lockerbie and for the D&G Region as a whole. It’s taken a lot of time and effort from all partner organisations to develop the project to this level. The staff and volunteer members of the LOS Board have spent many years developing plans for this Old School building and this additional financial commitment will help see this come to fruition. The Association are fully committed to the continued support as a project partner and assisting wherever it can until the Centre opens and beyond.”

Professor Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise which has pledged £1.2million to the project, said: 
“This is fantastic news for Lockerbie and the surrounding area. We have supported this project as we believe it can make a real positive impact in Lockerbie and the surrounding area, with the plans including social housing as well as new business and community spaces. It has been a real collaborative effort by funders, alongside the Lockerbie Old School Group who have put in a huge amount of hard work to get to this point. I look forward to seeing this ambitious project now come to fruition and the difference it will make to the Lockerbie area.”

 

 

We would like to take the time to say a huge thank you to those who have made this project possible. D&G Council, Cunninghame Housing Association, South of Scotland Enterprise, The Holywood Trust, Magnox, Muirhall Energy, Robertson Trust and Pan Am 103 Lockerbie Legacy Foundation – without their help we wouldn’t be where we are today!