Regeneration projects in Eyemouth and Newcastleton supported by Scottish Borders Council have been asked by the Scottish Government to submit a second stage bid for funding through its Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
Work is now progressing on the next stage of the process for the Eyemouth Harbour Waterfront Regeneration Project and a proposal for an enterprise centre and bunkhouse in Newcastleton.
The £795,000 Eyemouth project, led by Eyemouth Harbour Trust, is seeking £495,000 from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. The Council has already committed £300,000 of funding to support the project.
Christine Bell, Business Manager for the trust, said: “This project would help the trust redevelop the Old Fishmarket on Harbour Road, creating a thriving, vibrant space on the harbour front for use by the local community, business and visitors.
“Following our successful stage one application we are now working closely with the Council to develop the stage two bid, and will hold a drop-in consultation event at the Hippodrome between 3.30pm and 6.30pm on Monday 16 September for people to find out more and input into the project.”
The Newcastleton enterprise centre and bunkhouse project is being led by Newcastleton and District Community Trust, which is looking for almost £530,000 from the fund to upgrade a grade C building in the heart of the community to provide a new local enterprise and learning centre which will be sustained by a bunkhouse.
Barbara Elborn, Secretary of Newcastleton and District Community Trust, said: “We are delighted that our project has been recommended for a stage two application. A significant amount of work has gone in to developing this project, which will create business space, new community learning and meeting rooms and a no-frills bunkhouse capitalising on the growing outdoor leisure market.”
A large community consultation was undertaken identifying the need for local learning and enterprise support and with funding from the South of Scotland Economic Partnership the trust undertook a feasibility study which confirmed the opportunity for no frills accommodation within the locality.