regeneration and investment | Campbeltown
campbeltown town centre regeneration
economic assessment
August 2021 – Produced by Stantec on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council
total investment in Campbeltown
CAMPBELTOWN – SCOTLANDS MOST IMPROVED PLACE
major investment in Campbeltown
Campbeltown Town Hall
Facing an uncertain future Campbeltown’s iconic Town Hall was transferred to community ownership in 2014 – Argyll’s first major asset transfer. Over the course of six years, Argyll and Bute Council worked in partnership with the new owners South Kintyre Development Trust to secure over £2 million to fully repair and refurbish the building creating a multi-purpose community facility.
Campbeltown Picture House
In 2017 Campbeltown Community Business completed the £3 million ‘Centenary Project’ to renovate and modernise Campbeltown Picture House. Highlights include the restoration of the main auditorium to its former glory, installing modern heating, ventilation and seating, refurbishing the art nouveau frontage of the building, converting an adjacent building into a new foyer and café and building a second auditorium. Campbeltown Picture House is now run as a charity employing several full time staff and managed by a volunteer board of governors.
Aqualibrium (Leisure Centre)
The Aqualibrium Leisure Centre and library is situated on Kinloch Green in Campbeltown and offers spectacular views of Campbeltown Bay. Facilities include; swimming pool, gym, fitness class studio, library and conference room. Opened in 2006 at a cost of £7 million this project heralded the start of significant investment in Campbeltown town centre.
Campbeltown Marina
In 2015 Argyll and Bute Council completed a £1.5 million upgrade of Campbeltown Marina. Extensive works were carried out, including; the creation of a new marina, a new access bridge from the Quay, new pontoons and new on-shore facilities including toilets and showers. The new facilities have improved the tourism offer for both Campbeltown and the wider Kintyre area and have provided a boost to the local economy.
Campbeltown Infrastructure Improvements
In 2013 Argyll and Bute Council completed a £12m pound infrastructure investment in the Campbeltown / Machrihanish National Renewables Infrastructure Plan site. Campbeltown is one of few lee ports on the west coast offering a secure harbour with 9m dredged depth and easy access to Machrihanish where extensive areas of secure hard standing are available. Machrihanish is the location of wind turbine tower manufacturing facility that once employed c. 135 staff. The works included; major upgrade to the New Quay, creation of a new gateway road (Aqualibirum Avenue), resurfacing of the road networks, power lines redirected below road surface, passing places installed on the A83, infill to the inner harbour and work to the Old Pier. A number of industries have benefited from this project including; renewables, timber transporting, marine aquaculture and cruise ships.
The Royal Hotel
Following an extensive renovation project by the Kintyre Development Company (KDC), the highly prominent Royal Hotel was brought back into use in 2012, creating 23 four-star bedrooms, a pub and a seafood restaurant. The total project cost of over £3 million was met by; KDC, European funding and a grant from the Campbeltown THI.
From 2007 to 2021 Argyll and Bute Council delivered an extensive programme of heritage led regeneration in Campbeltown town centre. The £10million programme included two Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes (CARS) and the Campbeltown Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).
157 grants were awarded leading to the repair and conservation of over 40 buildings including Campbeltown Town Hall, Campbeltown Backpackers Hostel and 11 prominent tenement buildings.
SHOPFRONT IMPROVEMENTS
Between 2019 and 2023 the Campbeltown Shopfront Improvement Scheme awarded over 50 grants to local businesses to support repairs and improvements to their shopfronts., helping 8 new businesses to open and brining 10 vacant units back into use. The scheme was delivered in five phases with grant funding from the Town Centre Fund, Argyll and Bute Council and the Local Authority COVID Economic Recovery Grant . Some of the new shopfronts are displayed below:
THE PRIORITY BUILDINGS WITHIN CAMPBELTOWN CARS PROJECT
Between 2011 and 2020, 14 priority building projects were delivered via Campbeltown CARS and THI. Here are some examples.
contact
For advice or information on the Campbeltown CARS Project or Public Realm Works, please contact:
James Lafferty, Project Officer, Transformation, Projects and Regeneration Team
Phone: 01586 559049
Email: james.lafferty@argyll-bute.gov.uk
