Huntly town centre plan stays on track and funding bid will be lodged again
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THERE is to be no let up on efforts to redevelop No 30 in The Square - despite a bid to the Scottish Government’s regeneration capital grant fund being knocked back last week.
Huntly and District Development Trust’s (HDDT) town centre development manager, Carolyn Powell said on Tuesday that she awaited feedback on the application which would be used to submit a further bid to the fund later this year.
A two stage application for £1.4 million was submitted which succeeded at the first assessment but was declined at the second phase.
However, plans for the listed building continue and a design team including architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, services engineers, planning and specialist consultants is already deployed to look at every aspect of the building and the feasibility of various uses - reporting back to HDDT at the end of September.
Significant structural repairs are needed and the the design team are assessing what is required and drawing up a budget for the work.
Ms Powell said: “Because of what the project can bring to Huntly and the importance of the building in the Square, we welcome the opportunity to have more time to develop the project and work with the community on how it will be used.
“Getting capital funds for a project this size is never easy and we will be looking at other funding sources too to really enhance how the building is used in the future.”
Ms Powell said that half of the bids made to the fund in 2019 had been unsuccessful in 2018 and resubmitted after feedback.
She said: “We view the knock back as an opportunity really to further develop the project and make the best use of the information from the design team when it becomes available later in the year.”
The design team work has been funded by a number of partners and from HDDT’s own resources.
HDDT bought No 30 in July 2019 for £225,000 which was funded by Aberdeenshire Council's town centre regeneration fund.
Despite the delay at No 30, work will start later in the spring on the creation of the Huntly Hive, a co working space, in the former RBS in The Square.
The building has been stripped out, including the removal of asbestos ready for contractors to start work - tenders close next week.
It is hoped it will open in the summer and there has already been a good level of interest from potential users.
Co-working is now one of the fastest growing styles of working in the UK and Scotland is leading the way.
More information on the Huntly Hive is available from Ms Powell on 07551 107573 or email carolyn.powell@huntly.net
