John O'groats Mill Trust Receives £1.5million From An Investment In Scotland's Neighbourhoods By Scottish Government

19th January 2023

Regeneration projects in disadvantaged and rural communities across Scotland will receive a share of almost £27 million funding.

The investment will support schemes tackling child poverty and addressing issues like addiction and suicide prevention, while creating jobs and growing local economies. It supports town centre regeneration by bringing derelict buildings back into use and creating new buildings for the community or for commercial purposes.

The latest round of funding from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), delivered in partnership with COSLA and local authorities, will help 23 community-based initiatives which will create and support more than 700 jobs and more than 500 construction jobs, along with hundreds of training places.

Initiatives include:

converting a derelict Motherwell sports pitch into a recreation area and community base to support groups at particular risk of suicide
transforming a former pipe factory in Glasgow into a community centre and creative hub for young people, including those with care experience

renovating an empty, derelict building in Lossiemouth into a community hub providing services including affordable childcare, addiction counselling and debt advice

establishing a five-acre campus in Easter Ross to offer training in sustainable food production, promote zero waste and deliver courses focused on tackling food poverty and poor mental health.

Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said, "These innovative, grassroots schemes have been developed within communities to address local needs.

"Scottish Government support will help provide services like employment training, affordable childcare, mental health support and addiction counselling. Derelict landmarks will be redeveloped and new buildings created.

"By working in partnership with residents and local authorities, we are helping communities to support themselves and develop fair, green and prosperous economies which accelerate progress towards net zero emissions.

"The Scottish Government wants to create a fairer society by enabling more people to benefit directly from the wealth generated by local communities. That is why we are introducing Community Wealth Building legislation during this Parliamentary term - to fundamentally transform what our economy is for and how it operates."

COSLA's Environment and Economy spokesperson Councillor Gail Macgregor said, "The announcement today shows the strength of the RCGF and the commitment by local government to regenerating communities.

"In this uncertain time of inflation, rising energy costs and increased demand on services, the fund demonstrates what can be achieved in our towns, cities, villages and islands when support is focused on social and economic renewal.

"From tackling the mental health crisis to food poverty, affordable childcare to climate change, this fund goes beyond what we traditionally think of as regeneration thanks to the ambition and innovative thinking of communities across Scotland."

Since 2014-15, the RCGF has funded more than 200 projects which have supported or generated thousands of jobs, repurposed and returned to use landmark buildings in town centres, and created numerous new commercial spaces and multi-use community facilities.

RCGF funding applications are invited annually from all 32 local authorities and Clyde Gateway Urban Regeneration Company, as part of a two-stage process. An independent Investment Panel agrees recommendations to Ministers and COSLA on projects to be funded during the forthcoming financial year. Applicants must detail how projects will help meet net zero ambitions and reduce carbon emissions.

The Scottish Government plans to introduce Community Wealth Building legislation during this Parliamentary term to accelerate progress on transforming local economies and fundamentally reshaping how communities operate.

John O'Groats Mill Project
John O'Groats Mill is the last of the great Caithness corn mills and was in operation until around 2001 when Magnus Houston last worked the mill. In 2016 a new group, the John O'Groats Mill Trust, was created with the vision of restoring the mill buildings, machinery and water systems to full working order, enabling visitors to see a working Caithness mill, and for the wider John O'Groats community to make use of the building for a range of community driven activities. The Trust raised the funds to purchase the mill buildings and adjacent lands and this was carried out with a formal handover in August 2020.

The proposal is to restore the mill building and add an extension on the rear side. The reception is at ground level in the middle section of the building and a lift is enclosed within the reception area. The west wing will contain the mill and interpretation. The new build extension is a single storey building located to the north of the existing mill, the extension comprises a mixed use/education room, service area and a viewing terrace. It has a "green roof", which merges with the adjacent landscape.
See more about the design and plans HERE

John O'Groats Mill Trust Facebook

All the Awards -

Aberdeen City Council
Inchgarth Community Regeneration Hub
£1,900,000

Argyll & Bute Council
Aros Waterfront Development - Outdoor Activity Hub
£403,500

Argyll & Bute Council
Nonhebel Light Industrial Park Expansion (Nonhebel Park Phase 2)
£654,000

City of Edinburgh Council
Peffer Place Business Park
£2,250,000

Clyde Gateway
Shawfield GRID Campus
£3,350,000

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
Calanais 2025
£2,000,000

Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
Loch Carnan
£150,000

Dumfries and Galloway Council
Lockerbie Old School Wellbeing and Enterprise Centre
£2,623,000

East Ayrshire Council
New Cumnock Re-use Hub
£1,800,000

East Ayrshire Council
Take A Bow Opportunity Centre
£1,341,615

East Dunbartonshire Council
Campsie Memorial Hall Revitalisation Project
£950,000

Glasgow City Council
Refiring The Pipe Factory
£1,965,354

Highland Council
Gro For You - Community Innovation Campus - Tain
£450,000

Highland Council
John O'Groats Mill: A Power for the Community
£1,500,000

Highland Council
Knoydart Bunkhouse
£560,000

Moray Council
Lossiemouth Community Hub
£270,200

North Lanarkshire Council
Motherwell Football Club Community Trust - The Well Hub
£215,000

South Ayrshire Council
Maybole New Stables Lane Scheme
£959,807

South Ayrshire Council
Pinwherry and Pinmore Community Development Trust - Primary School Redevelopment
£197,633

South Lanarkshire Council
Carluke High Mill, Phase 1
£1,199,383

South Lanarkshire Council
Carnwath Community and Business Enterprise Hub
£275,000

South Lanarkshire Council
Larkhall Business Micro Hub
£300,000

West Lothian Council
Scottish Co-operative Discovery & Activity Centre
£1,400,000

Total
£26,714,492