PLANS to bring an historic Scottish harbour back into greater public use have been lodged.
It is understood a bid has been launched with the UK Levelling Up fund for more than £8m for the community-driven project in Dumfries and Galloway.
The local community, led by Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG), wants to transform the harbour so that it can recover its place as an important economic, cultural and environmental resource for the town’s residents and visitors.
The group is in the process of taking ownership of a run-down warehouse known as Collett’s building, an area of derelict land known as the Minister’s Merse, and soon the quayside, as key spaces to lead that regeneration process.
The design statement by Arc Architects on behalf of AHAG said: “Annan is a historic town that sits at the meeting of land, river and sea, with a thousand-year heritage of fishing, trade and smuggling, of shipbuilding, emigration and Robert Burns.
“Over the last hundred years that traditional life has faded, leaving Annan’s waterfront half-forgotten, blighted by disused buildings and contaminated land, derelict ships abandoned in a silted-up harbour, and the Harbour Authority moribund.
“It is time for a new chapter.”
In 2004, Dumfries & Galloway Council commissioned a report on the future of the area, which identified a range of regeneration options. In 2010, a masterplan provided a detailed framework for the regeneration of the town.
In 2020, a business plan established a sustainable long-term financial and operational strategy, and a technical report assessed the condition of the landscape and buildings, proposing costed redevelopment proposals for landscape enhancement, a recreational lagoon and retro-fit of the warehouse to create a visitor attraction and accommodation.
In 2021, a blueprint for Annan was published, setting the context for the harbour within the wider cultural and economic regeneration of the town.
This year, Dumfries and Galloway Council and South of Scotland Enterprise funded the development of detailed design work and site investigations which form the basis of the planning application supported by this design statement and associated drawings and technical information.
Colin Borland: The small business show must go on - with a supporting cast
AFTER recent political theatrics, one could be forgiven for thinking the Edinburgh Festival had kicked off early.
But it isn’t until August that we will see the wholehearted return of one of the world’s biggest arts festivals to Scotland’s capital and with it will come a welcome boost for our creative, tourism and hospitality industries.
Glasgow subway strike dates revealed as Rangers games hit
THOUSANDS of football fans will be affected due to a Glasgow subway strike which coincides with Rangers first home game of the new season.
Union Unite has confirmed that its Glasgow subway members have voted for strike action with the first Rangers home game of the season on Saturday, August 6 against Kilmarnock set to be affected.
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