More funding for Penicuik heritage projects
More than £171,000 of uncommitted developer contributions will be spent on improving Penicuik town centre as part of the town’s Heritage Regeneration Project.
Public realm works
At the full Council meeting on Tuesday, councillors heard the terms of the contributions mean the money can only be used for public realm works in Penicuik town centre.
Heritage project team
Councillors agreed council officers will work as part of the heritage project team to consider and distribute the money to various eligible projects.
Potential projects
While the available money would not cover all of them, potential projects the contributions could be used for include the ongoing restoration of the stone boundary wall at St Mungo’s churchyard adjacent to Kirkhill Road, Penicuik.
Resurfacing work
Repairing the road at the shops diagonally opposite the Penicuik Town Hall using black tarmac with red chip will also be considered as will resurfacing the area in front of 2-4 The Square, Bridge Street, Penicuik.
Replacement lampposts
Bollards at the new parking spaces outside the town hall and replacement lampposts there will be costed up along with, possibly, a new heritage style lantern lighting for outside 2-4 West Street.
No extra cost to council
Councillors also noted that costs to restore 2-4 West Street, (the Belgian Consulate building) had gone up from approximately £106,000 to £207,177. However, the extra construction costs would be covered by additional external funding and previous developer contributions for the heritage project.
Making Penicuik better
Midlothian Provost, Councillor Debbi McCall, said: “The extra funding is great news allowing further improvements to the historic town centre and making Penicuik an even better place in which to live, work and visit.”
About the project
The Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project is a now 6-year scheme aimed at regenerating the historic core of Penicuik through historic building grants, public realm improvements and an extensive education, training and engagement programme. It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and Midlothian Council, and is supported by Penicuik Community Development Trust, Penicuik Community Alliance Storehouse Ltd, Penicuik and District Community Council and, when it operated, Penicuik First.
Approving grant applications
A project team including the council, development trust, Penicuik Community Alliance Storehouse Ltd, and the district community council assesses and decides on grant applications for individual projects. The priority projects and parameters for approving grant applications were agreed with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic Environment Scotland.