Unwanted Dumfries and Galloway Council buildings generate £28m

The transfer of unwanted council buildings to community groups has generated more than £28m for the Dumfries and Galloway economy, a report has found.

The local authority received an award earlier this year for its work on community asset transfers (CATs).

An annual report to the council said groups across the region had “embraced the opportunity” to take over a range of sites.

It said the process could support communities to “develop their creative local aspirations”.

The report highlighted that the council had agreed 46 CATs since 2017.

This, in turn, has led to more than £28m of external funding being brought into the region when individual groups apply for grant funding to various sources.

Last year, there were five CAT requests from community groups, four of which were agreed while one was refused.

Queensberry Garages in Sanquhar were handed over to Sanquhar Enterprise Company and a multi-use games area was taken over by St John’s Town of Dalry Community Properties Trust.

The Community Reuse Shop in Stranraer was acquired by The Furniture Project Stranraer Ltd and the pavilion and land at Kirroughtree Avenue in Minnigaff was handed to Newton Stewart Men’s Shed.

A bid by RH Youth Organisation to take over a piece of community land in Lockerbie and operate rent-free for the next decade was turned down.

Reporting by the local democracy service.