Residents of the Kirkton area of Dundee are a step closer to a new community centre following the allocation of £1.5 million in funding. The money has been awarded to local charity Kirkton Community Centre SCIO through the UK Government's Community Regeneration Partnership (CRP).

The funding will enable the charity to progress plans for a modern, purpose-built facility on the site of the current, now demolished, Kirkton Community Centre. Dundee City Council, which is leading the delivery and governance of the overall £20 million CRP initiative, will work in partnership with Kirkton SCIO on the project. The new centre will be community-owned and run.

This development is intended to complement Dundee City Council's Community Hub model for the area, which will be based at the nearby Baldragon and St Paul's academies. While the UK Government has committed £1.5 million, Kirkton Community Centre SCIO is actively engaged in fundraising efforts to cover the remaining costs of the ambitious project.

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Council Leader Mark Flynn commented: "This is an important step for the Kirkton Community Centre SCIO in making their new community centre a reality. The Council is assisting the group through demolition of the current aging community centre and we are looking to confirm an agreement with them about the site. Between the charity's community provision and our exciting Hub plans, Kirkton residents can look forward to having access to excellent community spaces and activities day and night, all year round."

Melanie Kiyani, Treasurer of Kirkton Community Centre SCIO, expressed her delight at the funding confirmation, stating: "Kirkton Community Centre SCIO are delighted with the confirmation of this funding from the UK Government. We have an ambition to build a modern community centre which will bring jobs, enterprise, volunteering and training opportunities to the Kirkton Community. The new community centre will include a cafe, two retail units, multi-purpose space and a sensory room."

Ms Kiyani added: "We are currently working alongside Jon Frullani Architects to bring our vision to reality and will share the design for the new Kirkton Community Centre soon."