A £3.8m grant has been approved by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create the first building conservation centre in Scotland.

The latest funding will allow plans for The Engine Shed, which will be located in Stirling, to move forward.

The £8.9m project has already received full planning permission from Stirling Council.

The Engine Shed will see a derelict building transformed into a world-leading education centre for building conservation in Scotland, creating and delivering educational resources and training on traditional buildings and materials.

It will provide a centre of excellence for those already operating in the sector, as well as providing the opportunity for the sharing of knowledge and expertise through the creation of a 'knowledge hub' with events, exhibitions and activities for the general public.

The Engine Shed is due to open in summer 2016.

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Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, said: "This announcement marks a significant milestone within The Engine Shed project, and signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Scotland's heritage sector.

"Developing skills for the future is a key focus and I'm pleased that the HLF and Stirling Council share our vision to establish a world-class facility at The Engine Shed – helping to preserve and protect our nation's historic environment for future generations.

"The new centre will showcase cutting edge conservation technology, science and innovation practices as well as providing a central hub to help foster a creative and inspiring space for local residents and visitors from across the country to engage with conservation through activities, exhibitions and events."

Historic Scotland provided the latest grant, and David Mitchell, Director of Conservation at Historic Scotland, added: "These achievements mark the next key step for the project and will enable work to start on-site from April 2015.

"This is an exciting time for the sector with The Engine Shed set to become a leading hub for building conservation nationally and internationally. We want to celebrate traditional materials and skills that built them whilst raising technical standards.

"Our approach is to create a strong network of building conservation training and educators, and showcase our traditions and their future relevance."

Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in Scotland, commented: "The Engine Shed will be a beacon for Scotland's old buildings encouraging and training specialists and amateurs to care for them so that they are kept safe for future generations."

(JP/IT)