Selkirk conservation area regeneration
This initiative has now closed
Selkirk Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) was a partnership project developed with the local community and funded by ourselves and Historic Environment Scotland. The scheme aimed to regenerate the medieval core of the Selkirk Conservation Area through the provision of grant funding to eligible properties for external fabric repairs using traditional materials and skills.
Funding of £1.010m was secured in April 2012, made up of £795k from Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and £215k from ourselves. An additional £70k of funding was secured from HES during the scheme to augment the General Repairs Grant Fund which became oversubscribed. The project officially launched in November 2012 and completed at the end of March 2018.
The vision for the Selkirk CARS was to focus on the heritage led regeneration of Selkirk town centre and appreciation of its heritage assets through offering grant aid towards works to buildings, as well as supporting complementary initiatives to increase understanding of the town’s rich heritage.
The aim was to provide a platform for sustainable regeneration of the town centre, increasing knowledge of both its built fabric and history, whilst encouraging development, both physically and economically, now and in the future.
To achieve this, Selkirk CARS set out a series of aspirational aims and objectives with the local community from the outset. These aims and objectives were refined by the Selkirk CARS Steering Group and incorporated into Action Plans which were reviewed and updated annually.
Over 40 grant offers were made to support a wide variety of traditional repairs and reinstatement of architectural features.
Funding was allocated to seven priority buildings identified by the Selkirk CARS Steering Group as being located in prominent positions and having an adverse impact on the town centre due to their condition or appearance. The scheme aimed to help these buildings establish a sustainable future as well as demonstrating the benefits of Heritage Led Regeneration. The results add vibrancy to the town centre, both visually and in their activity.
Over £1.4m of building repair contracts were directly undertaken as a result of Selkirk CARS funding with approximately £650k coming from the building owners themselves.
Selkirk Streetscape
Selkirk CARS provided further assistance of £100k to the £450k complimentary Town Centre streetscape improvement project in the town's Market Place.
The town’s main civic space was enhanced with:
- new natural stone paving
- accessible pedestrian cross points
- complimentary street furniture
- a reorganisation of traffic movement to make the space more pedestrian friendly and flexible for future outdoor events
The Selkirk CARS funding allowed high quality, and historically accurate, natural materials to be utilised.
Skills training
Selkirk CARS organised or funded over 100 community heritage education projects and traditional skills training events to compliment the grant funded physical repair projects. Over 7,500 people participated in these education activities.
The £1.08m CARS investment was complimented by a further £650k of private sector funding as well as £350k for the Town Centre streetscape improvement project giving a total direct regeneration investment of over £2m in the Royal Burgh.
Regeneration continues in the town with new development progressing in the town centre, improvements to shopfronts, and the successful development of the Selkirk BIDS Scheme.