Glasgow City Council’s bid to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund for the Pollok Country Park Stables and Sawmill project has been successful, with the award of just over £13million to the project.
The restoration and redevelopment of the A Listed but dilapidated Courtyard and Stables, and Sawmill, at Pollok Country Park will see the creation of a net-zero carbon “Living” Heritage Centre and community and visitor attraction in Pollok Country Park based around the famous Clydesdale Horses, and the development of traditional power generation into modern renewable technologies.
The attraction will involve social enterprises and community groups, and will provide opportunities for training and employability, in order to develop local environmental stewardship and contribute to sustainability and wellbeing goals.
The application was shaped in collaboration with Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and local groups, with initial funding from the William Grant Foundation.
The council submitted this application – to the first round of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund – in June 2021.
The Levelling Up Fund (LUF) has £800million available for projects in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. These projects come under three themes: smaller transport schemes that will make a genuine difference in local areas; town centre and high street regeneration; and support for the maintenance and expansion of cultural and heritage assets.
Glasgow City Council can submit up to seven bids to the LUF (one per constituency), with a maximum value of £20million per application. One transport bid for up to £40million can also be submitted.
Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The confirmation of funding for the Pollok Country Park Stables and Sawmill project will not only restore the A Listed Stables and Old Courtyard, but enhances the unique and outstanding cultural and heritage attraction on offer at the park. This project will deliver economic and social gains to Glasgow, and is one that is absolutely worthy of this support. More bids for identified projects in the city will be made at the next calls for funding bids.”
Work on the Pollok Country Park Stables and Sawmill project will begin in early 2022, with completion in 2024.