New Cumnock Development Trust (NCDT) have begun work on a new project with the Scottish Land Commission to bring long term vacant buildings in the town back into use.
NCDT are working on behalf of the New Cumnock community to progress some of the priorities highlighted in New Cumnock’s 2018 Regeneration Masterplan.
With the support of the new project run in partnership between DTAS (Development Trusts Association Scotland) and the Scottish Land Commission, they are seeking to repurpose disused buildings in the area for some of the priorities highlighted in the recent Regeneration Masterplan.
The journey to bring a privately owned long term vacant site back into reuse through community ownership may take up to three years, NCDT say. However, the Trust assures that it is a challenge worth tackling as many local people have said that this is a top priority for New Cumnock’s future.
Vice Chair Susan Kerr said: “NCDT Board welcome the support of the DTAS/SLC partnership project.
“This will work to tackle the challenge of long term, vacant buildings in New Cumnock and contribute to the sustainable development of our community”.
The new partnership project provides professional support for community-led regeneration of vacant and derelict land sites.
The project will run for two years and seeks to develop
practical and innovative approaches to bringing different types of small and persistently problematic sites back into productive use in a way that could support and scale-up community led regeneration across Scotland.
The lessons learned from working with six communities across Scotland will then be used to inform future policy advice to the Scottish Government on how best to support community-led regeneration of vacant and derelict sites.
Sheena Boyd, NCDT’s Business and Development Manager, said: “It’s great to be working with DTAS/SLC. The partnership project’s support will help take forward work to create sustainable solutions to the challenges presented by empty buildings in the town”.
Throughout the journey, community support will be essential and there will be several opportunities to get involved. More information will be shared as the project continues to progress.
If you would like to be involved in identifying buildings to be included in an initial options appraisal, get in touch at general.ncdt@outlook.com or call 01290 338887.
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