GLASGOW City Council has been awarded £13million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund to restore and redevelop Pollok Country Park stables and sawmill.
The project involves creating a net-zero carbon “living” heritage centre and community and visitor attraction at the A-listed site.
It will be based around the famous Clydesdale Horses, and will also feature development of traditional power generation into modern renewable technologies.
The attraction will involve social enterprises and community groups, and will provide opportunities for training and employability, in order to develop local environmental stewardship and contribute to sustainability and wellbeing goals.
The application was shaped in collaboration with Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and local groups, with initial funding from the William Grant Foundation.
Work is expected to begin in early 2022, with completion in 2024.
The council submitted its application to the first round of the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund in June 2021.
The Levelling Up Fund (LUF) has £800million available for projects in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
These projects come under three themes — smaller transport schemes that will make a genuine difference in local areas; town centre and high street regeneration; and support for the maintenance and expansion of cultural and heritage assets.
Glasgow City Council can submit up to seven bids to the LUF (one per UK parliament constituency), with a maximum value of £20million per application. One transport bid for up to £40million can also be submitted.
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The confirmation of funding for the Pollok Country Park Stables and Sawmill project will not only restore the A-listed stables and old courtyard, but enhances the unique and outstanding cultural and heritage attraction on offer at the park.
“This project will deliver economic and social gains to Glasgow, and is one that is absolutely worthy of this support. More bids for identified projects in the city will be made at the next calls for funding bids.”
