£19,000 to help buy mill site
Last updated 12:17, Thursday, 28 August 2008
The Langholm Initiative was last night in line to receive a £19,000 cash boost to help it buy the Buccleuch Mill.
Members of the Annandale and Eskdale area committee were told the grant would enable the development and submission of full funding applications to buy and develop the site.
The initiative unveiled its plans to redevelop the mills into a business enterprise and community learning centre in June and held an open day.
A £1.5m redevelopment package has been put together which, if the funding is secured, will enable the initiative to buy the mill and transform it into a complex for both businesses and the community.
The idea is to provide serviced business units as well as additional car parking and a new building for community use, including a flexible learning centre.
The project has been given outline approval by the Big Lottery, the main funding body. A decision on the final application will be made shortly. Of the £1.5m needed, the Big Lottery will provide about £1m.
In his report, principal economic regeneration officer Chick McKenna said the Langholm Initiative proposals aimed to secure its long-term sustainability by placing it in a position where it would have a robust business and financial plan on which to base its future activities.
He said: “This is particularly important to their current work in securing premises from which they can develop an income stream.
“Work is ongoing to take forward these proposals and sustaining the business development worker position for the next six months is critical to these plans.
“Significant external investment can potentially be secured but only if the right proposals are taken forward. The relatively small sum requested represents a good investment.
“As with all projects seeking to attract external funding, there are significant risks attached to the Langholm project, including the risk that the application will not succeed.
“This has to be weighed against the prospects for the Langholm economy if the proposed development does not go ahead.
“On balance, it is a risk that is worth pursuing since the benefits from a successful development will support the long-term sustainability of both the Initiative itself and the economy of the area in general.”
Mr McKenna added that the initiative had moved towards sustainability, reducing dependency on grant funding and creating income through the delivery of projects for the community.
The organisation had implemented changes so that it was now run as a small business, while continuing with its community and voluntary organisation support.
This process was ongoing and if continued, would move the initiative towards financial independence, while expanding the delivery of projects and support to the community.
He said: “The post of development manager would focus on creating strategic and financial plans for the Initiative for the next three years, securing funding for the Buccleuch Mill enterprise centre and completing the detailed planning needed to enable the project to progress as soon as the funds are available.”
