Boost for community led regeneration

Thursday January 23

Jamie Hepburn MSP Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills visited The Oven in Dumfries recently to announce a funding award of £39,500 for the community-led regeneration project for the town centre – Midsteeple Quarter. The funding comes from the Scottish Government’s South of Scotland Economic Partnership (SoSEP) and is part of the package that will support a professional project team to deliver the Midsteeple Quarter vision on behalf of the community board of directors.

Ahead of his visit to the Midsteeple Quarter project, Business Minister Jamie Hepburn, said: “Working with SOSEP, the Scottish Government is making significant and targeted investments in the south of Scotland to help the region achieve its full economic potential. These three great projects will create new jobs, attract more visitors to the area, and make Dumfries and Galloway an even more attractive place to live.”

During his visit to The Oven Jamie Hepburn had the opportunity to meet some of the board of directors and team involved in the project and said; “It was my pleasure to come along and hear about the great work you’re doing. Good luck with it. I look forward to returning in the future to see the progress made.”

This award marks an important stage in the regeneration efforts for the town centre, Midsteeple Quarter have submitted a planning application for an ambitious redevelopment of The Oven as a mix of new flats for rent and a new business start-up space and are on track to commence work on site in the early Summer. The project team made possible by the funding from SoSEP will oversee The Oven redevelopment and drive forward the overall Masterplan for Midsteeple Quarter that promises to bring 200 people to live in the town centre and up to 50 new commercial units. The regeneration Masterplan was adopted by DG Council as part of Local Development Plan 2 in November 2019.

Matt Baker, Midsteeple Quarter Project Director commented “This is a massive vote of confidence in the Midsteeple Quarter project from the South of Scotland’s new enterprise agency. This award combined with other funding success from Scottish Government and in-kind contributions from Dumfries and Galloway Council gives Midsteeple Quarter a stable project team for the next two years to drive the project forward for our community.”