Tarbert Heritage and Place Funding Bids
Argyll and Bute Council · 26 June 2025
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 26 JUNE 2025 TARBERT HERITAGE AND PLACE FUNDING BIDS 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this report is to advise members that the development phase of the Tarbert Heritage Regeneration Scheme is concluded, allowing for delivery phase applications to now be submitted. 1.2 In principle agreement to submit two bids, to Historic Environment Scotland (HES), and to National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), was provided by Council at its meeting of 29th June 2023. This paper therefore seeks to ask members to agree to applications being made to each funder to meet August 2025 deadlines. 1.3 An ask of c£1m would be made to HES, and an ask of £850k would be made to NLHF. 1.4 Should funding bids prove successful, a Tarbert Heritage and Place Programme (HPP) could subsequently be delivered between 2026 and 2031. 1.5 Each funder has its own individual application and decision-making processes, and due to each process being competitive members are asked to note that the success of the funding bids is not guaranteed. It is anticipated that funders will reach their decisions in December 2025. 1.6 If successful, Tarbert HPP would be the first Heritage and Place Programme for Argyll and Bute, but as the project would be very similar to a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), it is considered that the considerable experience within the council’s Projects and Regeneration Team would ensure for meaningful project delivery. 1.7 To date, the development and delivery of eight CARS projects has realised a cumulative regeneration investment of £27m in some of Argyll and Bute’s key town centres.
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1.8 An HPP is required to be match funded by the council. At its meeting of 20th February 2025, Policy and Resources Committee agreed to an initial £115k from the 2024/25 Crown Estates allocation towards the project. 1.9 It is anticipated that Crown Estates funding is the most likely source to meet the total match funding commitment of c£650k. As match funding can be drawn down over a five-year period, subsequent asks could be made of Crown Estates Funding over the project duration. However, all other place funding sources would continue to be explored, and financial commitments from property owners would be required. Any match funding commitments from the Crown Estates budget would require the approval of the Council’s P&R Committee. RECOMMENDATIONS It is recommended that Council: • Agree that an application is made to Historic Environment Scotland’s, Heritage and Place Programme for £1m. • Agree that an application is made to National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Grants Fund for £850k. • Agree in principle that match funding of c£650k will be required over the five- year lifetime of the project and that Crown Estates is considered the appropriate source of this funding.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL COUNCIL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 26 JUNE 2025 TARBERT HERITAGE AND PLACE FUNDING BIDS 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The purpose of this report is to advise members that the Tarbert Regeneration Scheme development phase is concluded. Delivery phase applications can now be made to Historic Environment Scotland and National Lottery Heritage Fund under their respective funding programmes: Heritage and Place Programme, and Heritage Grants Fund. 2.2 It is planned to submit applications to each funder in August 2025, with an ask of c£1m to Historic Environment Scotland and an ask of £850k to National Lottery Heritage Fund. 2.3 Successful bids would enable delivery of a five-year heritage-led, Tarbert Regeneration Scheme between 2026 and 2031. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Council: • Agree that an application is made to Historic Environment Scotland’s, Heritage and Place Programme for £1m. • Agree that an application is made to National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Grants Fund for £850k. • Agree in principle that match funding of c£650k will be required over the five- year lifetime of the project and that Crown Estates is considered the appropriate source of this funding.
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4.0 DETAIL 4.1 At its meeting of 29th June 2023, Council gave its in principle agreement to making applications to heritage funders, with a view, if successful, to securing substantial funding to deliver a heritage-led regeneration scheme for Tarbert. 4.2 It is planned to make two, individual bids, to: Historic Environment Scotland’s, Heritage and Place Programme for c£1m; and to, National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Grants Fund for £850k, and to submit these in August 2025. 4.3 The funders each require a three to four month review period before reaching their decisions, and as such decisions are expected around December 2025. Both applications will be subject to a competitive process and as such the success of the bids is not guaranteed. 4.4 A development phase to inform the applications has now concluded. Taking a place-based approach, this included place making activity that considered the physical make up of Tarbert’s village centre, the repair needs of its heritage buildings, its cultural and social heritage, and explored how the village is accessed, used and navigated. 4.5 The project was supported by a Local Area Partnership throughout, with representatives from the six main Tarbert community organisations, helping to shape a meaningful and deliverable project outline that would suitably align with and support community priorities. Should applications prove successful, the Partnership would continue to support and influence the project throughout delivery. 4.6 Wider community consultation was undertaken at key points to help narrow down project scope, to identify priority buildings, community heritage projects and key areas of skills development. 4.7 The resulting project scope is very similar to a Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS). Eight CARS projects have been developed and delivered in Argyll and Bute over an eighteen-year period, with a cumulative total value of town centre investment of £27m. Two final CARS projects are currently in delivery, in Lochgilphead and Helensburgh.
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4.8 The strength and commitment of local involvement, combined with the delivery experience within the Projects and Regeneration Team, is considered to make for a robust and deliverable project, the outline of which is as follows, and further details of the proposed large-scale grants are set out in Appendix 1: • Large-scale grant towards 3 tenement properties, each within multiple ownership • Smaller-scale grant pot towards individual elements of repair • Shopfront grant pot • Community Heritage Engagement and Events Programme • Heritage Skills Programme 4.9 Property owners would be expected to contribute financially to the project. 4.10 An HPP is required to be match funded by the council. The delivery period of five years provides an element of flexibility in relation to when funding is sourced and drawn down. 4.11 All place funding sources will be explored, but it is anticipated that Crown Estates funding is the most likely source to meet the full match funding commitment of £650k. At its meeting of 20th February 2025, Policy and Resources Committee agreed to an initial £115k from the 2024/25 Crown Estates allocation towards the project. The 5-year project delivery period would enable subsequent requests for Crown Estates Funding to be made. It should be noted that any subsequent match funding commitment from the Council’s Crown Estates budget would be subject to the approval of the P&R Committee. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Applications for a Tarbert Heritage and Place Programme will be made to heritage funders, Historic Environment Scotland and National Lottery Heritage Fund to meet August deadlines, for decision in December 2025. 5.2 The restoration of prominent architectural features, combined with the celebration of Tarbert’s heritage and skills training has the potential to make a meaningful difference to the village centre. If the funding bids are successful, a project would commence during financial year 2026/27.
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6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – Each application will comply with the policy aims, and investment principles of each funder. The project takes a place -based approach and seeks to support the communities council priority: We will build and strengthen our communities as attractive, vibrant places to live, work and do business. 6.2 Financial – An application will be made to Historic Environment Scotland for c£1m, and an application to National Lottery Heritage Fund will be made for £850k. A match funding commitment from the council of c£650k, which can be drawn down at any point over the 5-year delivery period, will be required if bids are successful, and would be subject to approval from P&R Committee. 6.3 Legal – Should applications prove successful, through its acceptance of each offer of grant, the Council would enter into a contract with each funder at this stage. 6.4 HR – There is existing staff with the experience required to deliver the project, and the project budget includes for staff resource. 6.5 Customer Service – None. 6.6 Risk – Applications will be subject to a competitive process and as such there is no guarantee they will be successful. 6.7 Climate Change – Applications include for climate adaptation measures to mitigate against the effects of increased rainfall. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty: 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics – The project includes elements that would enhance equalities. 6.10 Consumer Duty – None. 6.11 Island Communities – None. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – None. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director with responsibility for Development and Economic Growth Councillor Jim Lynch, Policy Lead for Economic Development, Islands and Rural Communities, Housing 9th May 2025 For further information contact: Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth fergus.murray@argyll-bute.gov.uk Jonathan Welch, Transformational Projects and Regeneration Manager
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jonathan.welch@argyll-bute.gov.uk Lorna Pearce, Senior Development Officer lorna.pearce@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Priority Building Proposals