SOSE welcomes start of works on Dalbeattie Rocks and Wheels regeneration project
South of Scotland Enterprise has welcomed the start of works on the Dalbeattie Rocks and Wheels regeneration project to convert a former primary school into a community and activity centre.
The £7.8million project is being led by community group Dalbeattie Community Initiative, with the site anticipated to open in 2026.
The Initiative has partnered with global specialised companies Velo Solutions and Rockworks to develop a national-level pump track and indoor bouldering centre.
Collective Architecture and the design team have created a multi-use site that features a flexible community space for hire, ideal for social and uniformed groups, a place you can hire for training to upskill community members and offer areas for business use to encourage new enterprises.
The project includes a 52-bed accommodation building along with both indoor café and outdoor seating space.
Additionally, a refectory has been designed to serve schools, families, and organised groups interested in package breaks.
SOSE approved a grant of £700,000 earlier this year to help complete the funding for the project, and has also provided advice and guidance.
Alongside SOSE’s assistance, the project received an allocation of £5.2m from the UK Government, as well as support from Dumfries & Galloway Council, UK Shared Prosperity, Place Base Investment Program (PBIP), Economic Development Capital Program (DGEDCP), sportscotland, The Holywood Trust and National Lottery Awards for All.
Jane Morrison-Ross, SOSE Chief Executive said:
“One of the priorities for SOSE is to support vibrant, resilient and enterprising communities to help tackle the economic and social challenges we face, and help our region to flourish.
“We believe Dalbeattie Community Initiative’s ambitious Rock and Wheels project will do exactly that.
“It will bring a disused building back into use to provide significant education, training, employment and tourism opportunities, as well as health and wellbeing benefits for the local community.
“We supported 43 similarly ambitious community enterprises and charities in 2023/2024 with financial and non-financial assistance, with our Enterprising Communities team always available to help groups who want to make a difference in their local area.”
Rowan Lloyd, a Community Development Advisor with SOSE who has been working with Dalbeattie Community Initiative, added:
“It is wonderful to see work get underway on the Dalbeattie Rock and Wheels project which will provide many benefits for the local community.
“It has been fantastic to work with such an ambitious community group and I look forward to seeing the project come to fruition.”
More information on Dalbeattie Rocks and Wheels is available at www.rocksandwheels.org