£1 million for Rothesay Pavilion

More than £1 million of European funding for the restoration of Rothesay Pavilion will help create new jobs, Economy Secretary Keith Brown has said. 

The £1.06 million funding from the European Regional Development Fund will help set up affordable space for small to medium sized businesses to operate and grow their business. Around 16 jobs are expected to be created and retained through the investment.

Economy Secretary Keith Brown saw progress on the restoration on a visit to Rothesay, he said:

“This £1 million European funding will help to re-establish Rothesay Pavilion as a cultural hub for the community, businesses and tourists.

“It will benefit businesses, giving them access to affordable office space which can help them grow and boost the local economy.

“With Brexit there is of course now a question mark over the future of this European funding.  I will continue to call on the UK Government to provide clarity so communities across Scotland can have the certainty they need to develop projects that bring economic benefits to their area.”

The funding is part of the overall £14 million project to transform the Grade A listed building into a hub with a shop, café, office space and venues for music and theatre. The facility is expected to employ over 30 people and attract more than 70,000 visits every year. 

Argyll and Bute Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are also providing £1.58 million towards the office space and the wider project received £625,000 from the Scottish Government and COSLA’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund in 2015/16.

Councillor Gary Mulvaney, Argyll and Bute Council’s Policy Lead for Strategic Finance and Capital Regeneration Programme, said:

“As well as being incredibly architecturally important, Rothesay Pavilion is a well-loved and iconic Art Deco building and we are working hard with all our partners to bring it back to life and to its former glory. We are grateful to the Scottish Government for the additional funding which will allow the development of a hub for small and medium sized enterprises as part of the building’s regeneration.

“The Pavilion will be transformed into a community and cultural facility. As well as bringing jobs we will deliver a tourist attraction for the island and beyond.”

Jennifer Nicoll, HIE area manager for Argyll and the Islands, said:

“It’s great to see this project getting underway. The Pavilion lies at the heart of the Bute community and has the potential to create jobs, improve the town environment and provide cultural and educational opportunities for local people and visitors. I am very pleased we have been able to support the project and look forward to it taking shape.”

Background

The funding is part of the 2014-2020 European Regional Development Fund programme with the second round of applications now under way.

Argyll and Bute Council’s £14 million fundraising target to restore the Pavilion, has been reached with  the assistance of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, the Scottish Government and other public bodies and private organisations.