Govan site to benefit from fund to restore vacant and derelict land

A DERELICT site once at the heart of the River Clyde’s shipbuilding industry has been awarded a substantial chunk from a Scottish Government fund to turn Scotland’s vacant and derelict land into more productive use.

The Govan Graving Docks is to receive £2.4m (between the financial years, 2023-24 and 2024-25) from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.

Says the Scottish Government, here: “The Govan Graving Docks were used for final painting and repair of vessels but have lain empty for 40 years. The Scottish Government award to upgrade a riverside walkway and create green space by 2025 is intended to help attract business investment, reverse biodiversity loss and habitat decline and create a visitor attraction.

“Further restoration of the historic dockyard will see it used for repairing heritage vessels, while a footbridge linking the site to neighbouring visitor destinations – including the Glasgow Science Centre – is planned once private sector funding is secured.”

It is one of 15 schemes sharing £10 million (to be exact, £9,301,184) in this upcoming financial year, 2023-24, from the programme.

Continues the government announcement, other successful projects include:

  • Creation of a community learning campus on the site of a former Midlothian colliery;
  • Decontamination and redevelopment of former military land at Cromarty Firth to enable construction of 93 affordable homes;
  • Re-use of vacant and derelict buildings in Kirkcaldy, Fife as an employment and training hub for rural green jobs and apprenticeships; and
  • Support for community-led food production in Clackmannanshire.

The breakdown is as follows:

Local authority – project – 2023-24 – 2024-25 – 2025-26 – Total grant recommended

[The] City of Edinburgh Council – Granton Gasholder – £1,224,410 – £0 – £0 – £1,224,410

Clackmannanshire Council – Clacks Community, Growing a new Future – £500,000 – £0 – £0 – £500,000

Clyde Gateway – Shawfield Phase 2, remediation – £200,000 – £0 – £0 – £200,000

Fife Council – Ravenscraig Skills Hub, Kirkcaldy – £491,582 – £0 – £0 – £491,582

Glasgow City Council – Cadder Woods Community Greenspace – £521,193 – £251,507
 – £0 – £772,700

Glasgow City Council – Community Net Zero Hub – £182,276 – £0 – £0 – £182,276

Glasgow City Council – Govan Graving Docks – £368,794 – £2,000,000 – £0 – £2,368,794

Glasgow City Council – Greening Royston – £797,121 – £0 – £0 – £797,121

Glasgow City Council – North Maryhill TRA Green Infrastructure – £650,000 – £800,000 – £0 – £1,450,000

Highland Council – Cromlet Invergordon – £400,000 – £0 – £0 – £400,000

Highland Council – Longman Park – £850,000 – £1,300,000 – £0 – £2,150,000

Midlothian Council – All Through Community Learning Campus Shawfair – £2,122,000 – £1,545,000
 – £0 – £3,667,000

North Ayrshire Council – The King’s Arms Irvine – £400,000 – £200,000 – £0 – £600,000

Perth and Kinross Council – Millhaugh, phase 1 – £93,808 – £0- £0 – £93,808

West Dunbartonshire Council – Residential development at Pappert Bonhill – £500,000 – £500,000 – £250,000 – £1,250,000
 
Totals:  2023-24 £9,301,184 – 2024-25 £6,596,507 – 2025-2026 £250,000 – Total grant recommended £16,147,691

Picture credit: Glasgow City Council

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