A groundbreaking ceremony has taken place to mark the official start of work on the £15.65 million Annan Harbour Regeneration Project.
The event brought together project partners, funders, councillors and trustees to celebrate a major milestone for one of the region’s most significant community-led regeneration projects.
Led by Annan Harbour Action Group, the project will transform the historic harbour area into a vibrant destination for local people and visitors. It will create a heritage visitor centre, community hub, café, water sports lagoon and improved public spaces, while bringing the former Collett’s Building and the Minister’s Merse back into productive use.
The project is expected to generate more than £27 million in economic and social benefits by boosting tourism, increasing visitor spending, creating jobs and skills opportunities and supporting the long-term regeneration of Annan. It will also provide five new full-time equivalent jobs, support three existing posts, create 10 training places each year and bring 1.4 hectares of vacant and derelict land back into use.
Works include a new footbridge to improve active travel links, environmental improvements to the Minister’s Merse, biodiversity enhancements and the creation of a leisure lagoon that will provide new opportunities for recreation and water-based activities.
The ceremony on Wednesday featured the symbolic re-dressing of a 250-year-old block of Corsehill sandstone by Deputy Lieutenant for Dumfriesshire Kate Thomson, replacing a perished stone in the historic harbour warehouse. Stone from the building is being reclaimed wherever possible to preserve its character and heritage while supporting the project’s sustainability ambitions.
Mike Rodger, Chairman of Annan Harbour Action Group, said:
“After years of decline and neglect, the dreams and vision of a small, determined group of people are now being realised. This small charity has demonstrated what can be achieved through dogged determination and when that effort is married to the support of enlightened funders, there is no limit to what can be accomplished. Today is proof of that. Annan is a superb town and its residents deserve this. Very soon, Annan Harbour will be revitalised and the Solway coast will have an exciting new destination for everyone to enjoy.”
Tom Morton of Arc Architects said:
“Many of Scotland’s towns face multiple challenges of economic and environmental decline. Annan is showing how with effective empowerment, those processes can be reversed and better futures can be delivered- thriving futures with derelict buildings restored, new jobs and skills for local people, nature restoration and climate resilience, opportunities for culture and enterprise. It’s the challenge of our times, being met here at Annan Harbour.”
Councillor Andy Ferguson, Chair of Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said:
“The Annan Harbour Regeneration Project is an excellent example of what can be achieved when a strong community vision is backed by partnership working and targeted investment. Thanks to the dedication of Annan Harbour Action Group, this important site is being transformed into a place that celebrates Annan’s culture and natural heritage while creating new opportunities for local people and visitors.
“This project will support jobs, skills development, recreation, learning and wellbeing, while helping to attract further regeneration and investment to Annan and the wider region. Dumfries & Galloway Council is proud to support this milestone and we look forward to seeing the harbour take shape over the next two years.”
Jenny Gilruth MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, said:
“I recognise that reaching this point has been the result of much hard work by the Annan Harbour Action Group and all the partners involved.
“The ceremony is a much-deserved moment to take the time to reflect on the journey so far and on the history of the harbour as its new future starts to take shape with the beginning of the construction works.”
Russel Griggs, Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise, said:
“This is one of the most significant days for Annan Harbour and its thousand-year history.
“While the harbour has faced considerable challenges in recent years, the ambitious vision being driven forward by the Annan Harbour Action Group deserves praise and support.
“These regeneration plans will breathe new life into the area, creating a vibrant destination that benefits local people, attracts visitors and strengthens the town’s future.
“Empowering communities to be ambitious, enterprising and sustainable is at the heart of what we do at South of Scotland Enterprise. Working alongside local and national partners, we are proud to support this investment, helping to transform Annan Harbour into a thriving asset for the town, the region and future generations.”
The £15.65 million project has been made possible through funding of £11.82 million from the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund, £1.34 million from the Scottish Government’s Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme, £622,000 from the Scottish Government’s Place Based Investment Programme, £416,000 from Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Community Led Economic Regeneration Framework, and £1.45 million from South of Scotland Enterprise.
Initial construction activity will include work to create the new leisure lagoon and bridge access to the Minister’s Merse. The area will be rewilded with native species and will feature viewing platforms and a bird hide, allowing visitors to experience parts of the river that have been inaccessible for more than 60 years.