The Annan Harbour Regeneration Project has received a significant boost with a £1.34 million funding award from the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, announced Dumfries and Galloway Council today.

Led by the Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG), the ambitious £15.6m project aims to transform the harbour area by delivering a new heritage visitor centre, a community hub, a café, a watersports lagoon, and undertaking crucial environmental improvements. Key components include the full renovation of the derelict Collett's Building, a former warehouse, and the redressing of environmental contamination on the Minister's Merse. These efforts are expected to enhance Annan's tourism offering and create new employment and skills development opportunities for local residents.

This latest funding complements a substantial £11.8m already allocated to the Annan Harbour project as part of the £22.8m Three Rivers Active Tourism Project. This joint bid, encompassing projects in Dumfries and Galloway, South Lanarkshire, and Scottish Borders, successfully secured funding in Round 3 of the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund. Additional funding has also been secured from Dumfries and Galloway Council's Community Led Economic Regeneration Framework and South of Scotland Enterprise.

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Councillor Ian Blake, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, welcomed the news: "We are delighted with the news that the Annan Harbour Project has been awarded £1.34m from the Scottish Government's Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme. This additional investment towards the Annan project within the Three Rivers Active Tourism Project demonstrates the power of community-led regeneration as a driver for local economic growth."

Councillor Jackie McCamon, Vice Chair of the committee, added: "This is fantastic news. Our council actively promotes community-led regeneration, and the Annan Harbour Project is a great example of celebrating local culture and natural heritage to create opportunities for local people and visitors alike."

Richard Brodie, Chair of Annan Harbour Action Group, expressed his enthusiasm: "This award is a massive boost to the Annan Harbour Project. It means that we don't have to scale back on our ambitious plans and that we can deliver this significant regeneration of Annan on or ahead of schedule."

Alan Thomson, AHAG Development Manager, extended gratitude: "We are immensely grateful to Dumfries and Galloway Council's Economic Development Team and the Scottish Government for this award. While confident that our project will indeed bring vacant and derelict land into productive use for the community, we did not underestimate the task of securing such a large amount of capital funding in these difficult times. With this boost we can now push on and appoint contractors with a view to beginning construction early next year."

With the total project cost of £15.6m now secured, which includes capital works and professional fees, construction is programmed to commence early in 2026, with completion anticipated in spring of 2028.