Your Midsteeple Quarter questions answered
Our Midsteeple Quarter team is always pleased to answer any questions that our members or the wider community have about our community benefit society’s vision and work to breathe new life into Dumfries town centre.
We have had some great events in recent months where people have asked some really interesting questions about all sorts of things. So we have wrapped some of them up in this post. We hope you find it useful.
Your questions
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●135-139 High Street - £0. It was a community asset transfer from the council. However, we paid £35,000 to purchase a small warehouse building at the rear of the site.
● 111 High Street - £136,800
● The Smithy - £100,000 + no VAT
● The Press - £114,000 + VAT
● 109 High Street and 51 Bank Street - £174,000
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Yes. We currently own five buildings and our vision is to create a new High Street neighbourhood, sheltered within a town block by bringing buildings into community ownership.
To achieve this, we have a five-phase plan:
Phase 1: Redevelop 135-139 High Street (the former Bakers Oven)
Phase 2 : Purchase and ‘meanwhile use’ of other High Street Frontages and Backland between 135-139 High Street and 51 Bank Street
Phase 3 : Development of High Street Frontages and Backland
Phase 4: Bank Street / Corner of Irish Street
Phase 5: Irish Street
Read our Blueprint here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eea3071d39d763da060720c/t/5f130b9274141a786963447e/1595083708571/MSQ_Blueprint_2020_PRINT1.pdf
Read our Architectural Masterplan here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5eea3071d39d763da060720c/t/5f341287c097176f69f3b6dd/1597248174187/Midsteeple_Quarter_Masterplan_LDP2_Nov_2019.pdf
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Scotland’s climate change legislation sets a target date for net zero emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2045, which is ahead of the UK target of 2050.
Find information and resources here: https://www.gov.scot/policies/climate-change/
Dumfries & Galloway Council has declared a climate emergency and launched their Carbon Neutral Strategic Plan in November 2021 with the aim of achieving a net zero carbon status for Dumfries and Galloway by 2025.
Find information and a link to the plan here: https://www.dumgal.gov.uk/article/21773/Climate-Emergency
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We have been through a feasibility stage, researching the housing market and talking to potential funders and stakeholders. Given the findings of this research and the acute shortage of key worker housing in Dumfries - together with the restrictions of the funding secured to date - we have decided to create four flats for general rent, but will seek to target key workers, especially those in the NHS. The broad design for these four flats has provided the basis for development funding from AHF.
We have instructed the detailed design of the flats, which will follow regulatory processes including planning and listed building consents and building warrant.
Subject to securing the necessary consents, and final funding package, we expect the refurbishment works to start in summer 2024.
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It is a Category B listed building located within the Town Centre Conservation Area. Any development and alterations to this building will require Listed Building Consent.
The CARS (Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme) funding will enable the heritage features to be retained and repaired. The key features are the exterior, roof, chimneys, windows as much of the interior is already significantly altered. The internal staircase is also an original feature which will be retained.
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The Smithy
It was probably originally constructed as a ground floor shop with residential accommodation above and workshops to the rear.
With the boom in high street retail in the post-war period, further extensions were added and alterations made to maximise retail space at the expense of the original layout and character of the property.
The property now consists of four distinct sections of varying age and construction. The original building on the High Street is from the late 19th Century. Building two may be contemporary with building one. Building three looks to be later, possibly between 1930 and 1950, while building four looks to be 19th century.
The Press
The building is a typical town centre retail unit in a high street terrace. It was originally constructed as a printer’s shop with print works in single-storey buildings to the rear.
With the boom in high street retail in the post-war period, further extensions were added and alterations made to maximise retail space at the expense of the original layout and character of the property.
The property can be regarded as four distinct parts.
The original building on the High Street is from the late 19th Century. Building two may be contemporary with building one. Building three looks to be later, possibly between 1930 and 1950, while building four looks to be 19th century.
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The Courier (previously The Herald and Courier)
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It is our intention to remove the paint from the corner building (51 Bank Street) and return it to the original sandstone finish. The only other painted building is The Smithy, which we are currently repairing damaged render from.
Following that we will look to repaint, depending upon costs given our long-term intention to redevelop the building.
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Flats one to six will have balconies. The Studio will not because it’s on the ground floor.
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It is not a standard flat, but will be a residential live-work studio. It could absolutely be an artist who lives/works in it.
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We don’t. The current redevelopment of Phase one maximises the depth and height development potential of this plot.
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At ground floor level the building will be a single entity from shop front to rear flat. However, at first and second floor level there are external walkways.
The walkway on the first floor connects the flats at the rear with the garden room through to the co-working office space facing the High Street. The walkway on the second floor connects the front and rear flats. Lift access is in the middle. The other occupied levels (lower ground floor and ground floor) do not require a walkway.
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It’s not.
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Some small pieces of pottery and a leather shoe.
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Construction is scheduled to be complete in spring 2024 with occupation soon after.
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Good. We have seven flats, with the number of expressions of interest far outstripping the number of homes we have available.
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The housing will be mid-market rent (i.e. below market rent levels for the type and size of flat) and all the flats will be energy efficient helping to keep utility bills low.
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Through legal tenancy contracts. The funding conditions of the building redevelopment prevents the resale of any part of the site.
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With this goal in mind, SKS Scotland CIC completed a fully-costed Operational Plan for Phase One in March 2023.
Phase One is the model for the redevelopment of our other buildings in community ownership. It should be financially sustainable with the rental income from the flats subsidising the community / enterprise space on the ground and first floors.
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Our team’s incredibly busy, but yes thank you.
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Through networking and working relationships with youth-serving organisations and directly with young people in schools, etc.
We are open to everyone’s ideas as to how we can engage with more young people especially those aged 18-25.
What if I have a question about Midsteeple Quarter’s work?
Drop our Community Engagement Activator Kathryn Hill a line by emailing kathryn@midsteeplequarter.org