Dumfries and Galloway Council is due to vote in favour of a £3.5 million regeneration project in Stranraer.

The scheme will see a range of improvements delivered to public areas, key buildings, and address empty or derelict properties in the town's centre.

In addition, essential repairs will be carried out along with an extension to the former Harbour Masters office at the Marina entrance, while repairs will be delivered at Stranraer Museum including restoration of the building's external fabric.

At a meeting of the council's Economy, Environment and Infrastructure (EEI) Committee on 14 June, members will be asked to accept a range of awards successfully bid for by the council from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (£1.8m) and Historic Improvements Scotland (£541,292).


Councillors will also be asked to allocate a further £321,201 from the local authority's Economic Development Capital Programme to the project. Over £227,000 of private investment has been secured towards the scheme.

Councillor Colin Smyth said: "Last year, our Council secured external investment of more than £3 million for improvements in Stranraer on top of the council's own significant investment.

"Much of that funding has so far gone towards the Stranraer Waterfront because it is the main opportunity that exists to deliver transformational change for the town and offers a new reason to attract visitors.

"However, I strongly believe that the regeneration of Stranraer has to be about more than just the Waterfront. That is why we need to improve the town centre and ensure there are tangible links from the Town centre to the Waterfront and East Pier and that's what this project will help achieve."

(LM/JP)