Future of Rothesay's Winter Garden secured thanks to funding from Scottish Land Fund

The Category-A listed Winter Garden, that has occupied Rothesay’s waterfront since 1924, is to pass into community hands following an award of £120,500 from the Scottish Land Fund. 

Bute Community Land Company will purchase the Winter Garden from VisitScotland, to operate as a community cinema and flexible events space. The move will secure the future of the building and provide employment for four local people as well as volunteering opportunities. 

The grant is one of 16 totalling £2,164,121 for community asset projects across Scotland, announced today by the Scottish Land Fund. 

Other projects include £499,570 to Action Porty for the purchase of the former Portobello Police Station, in Edinburgh, through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) from Police Scotland. The group will use the space to create new studios and workspaces for artists, community organisations and community activities in a central, high-street location. Meanwhile, Clackmannan Development Trust has been awarded £117,750 to acquire Clackmannan Town Hall and Library building through a CAT (Community Asset Transfer) from Clackmannanshire Council. CDT will take over the ownership and management of the community hub, providing and hosting a range of existing and new services, support and opportunities for people. 

The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. 

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “These latest projects to be supported by the Scottish Land Fund show the incredible variety in the way community ownership can enhance an area, by preserving much loved land or buildings or maintaining vital services. I know this investment will make a real difference right across the country.” 

Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “From saving iconic buildings and giving them a new purpose, to providing  communities with the backing to take over village shops and to purchase land on which they can build essential housing, the Community Land Fund continues to support projects that enhance lives in both urban and rural areas of Scotland.” 

Sandra Holmes, Head of community assets at HIE, said: “These projects highlight the incredible impact of communities taking charge of their own future. By securing vital assets, they’re safeguarding essential services while creating places that support jobs, attract visitors and bring people together. Community ownership is a powerful tool for lasting change, strengthening the local economy and building resilience for generations to come. We can’t wait to see what these inspiring ventures achieve next.” 

Richard Whitcomb, Chair, Bute Community Land Company, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this grant from the Scottish Land Fund. It will not only enable us to secure the future of this much loved building and the island's only cinema, but will, we hope, act as a catalyst for creative and exciting events and activities which will benefit the people who live on Bute and its visitors for many years to come.  The Scottish Land Fund grant is a massive step forward - and we are grateful to the community, the Scottish Land Fund and the vendor, Visit Scotland, for supporting this extremely important project.” 

Justin Kenrick, Chair, Action Porty, said: “We are overjoyed to have secured this crucial funding from SLF. It will enable our community to bring this iconic building back to life as an engine of economic, social and cultural life on our High Street.” 

And Laura Johnstone, Chairperson, Clackmannan Development Trust, said: “We are very grateful for this grant and for the support and guidance that has been provided during this Community Asset Transfer process. Clackmannan Town Hall is the heart of the community, and we look forward to working together with partners such as Clackmannan Town Hall Trust to ensure it remains a hub for all residents to enjoy and to continue our aim to make Clackmannan a better place to live, work and visit.”

Other groups receiving funding 

Boleskine Community Care 

Award £365,611 

Boleskine Community Care will purchase, through a negotiated sale, Foyers Stores, Cafe and Post Office in Foyers, on the southeastern side of Loch Ness, from a private seller. The group will lease part of the building to a Community Benefit Society, who will run the business providing a general store, cafe and post office. The upstairs accommodation will be leased to the business manager or a key worker within the community. 

Broadford and Strath Community Company 

Award £29,620 

Broadford and Strath Community Company (BSCC) will purchase Broadford North Wood (and an additional small plot of land), in Broadford, Isle of Skye, from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). BSCC will manage and develop the woodland to deliver community benefit through increased access and volunteering opportunities. The woodland is adjacent to a 23ha site BSCC purchased in 2011 and will complement activities already carried out. 

Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust 

Award £20,910 

Fintry Kirk Resilience and Community Trust will acquire Fintry Kirk, Stirling, through a negotiated sale with the Church of Scotland. The group, who have registered a Community Right to Buy (CRtB) Part 2 interest on the property, will operate a resilience hub from the building, in addition to providing a venue for culture, heritage, life events and youth wellbeing activities. 

Friends of Tough Community Church 

Award £89,400 

Friends of Tough Community Church (FOTCC) will acquire the Category B-Listed Tough Parish Church and redevelop it into a community hub, providing a space to combat social isolation, with plans for future developments to ensure long-term sustainability. 

Gatehouse Development Initiative 

Award £157,345 

Gatehouse Development Initiative will purchase, through a negotiated sale, a development plot in Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, from a private seller. The group will build seven community-led affordable homes for rent, which will be a mix of five two-bedroom terraced houses, and two two-bedroom flatter apartments including one accessible apartment. 

Islay Development Initiative Ltd 

Award £72,069 

Islay Development Initiative Ltd (IDI) will purchase, through a negotiated sale, a retail building from VisitScotland in Bowmore, Islay. IDI will relocate their post office, zero-waste refillery and community fridge to the premises. This will provide enhanced physical access to essential services and a greater range of refill and food products. IDI will also incorporate a tourist information service point. 

Keir, Penpont and Tynron Development Trust 

Award £151,615 

Keir, Penpot and Tynron (KPT) Development Trust will purchase the Glebe Field in Penpont from the Church of Scotland. They will develop nine affordable rental homes, allotments, a community green space and small business units. 

Kinlochard Community Residents Association Ltd 

Award £137,000 

Kinlochard Community Residents Association Ltd (KCRA) will purchase an area known locally as ‘The Field’ from a private seller. The group has a Community Right to Buy (Part 2) registered interest in the site, which sits behind a group of cottages located on the western shore of Loch Ard. The group will use the land for recreation, food growing, learning, training and storage for local businesses. 

Kirkmichael Ayrshire Development Trust 

Award £87,197 

Kirkmichael Ayrshire Development Trust (KADT), will acquire the McCosh Hall and its surrounding grounds for use as a community hub to combat social isolation in the area. A community shop will lease part of the building. The building will be acquired through Community Asset Transfer from South Ayrshire Council. 

Melness Community Church Organisation 

Award £57,400 

Melness Church Community Organisation (MCCO) will acquire Melness Church in Talmine, Sutherland, through private sale from the Church of Scotland. The group plans to use the asset as a focal point for the community, an exhibition space, a seasonal cafe and space for life events. 

St Laurence Forres Trust 

Award £110,250 

St Laurence Forres Trust will acquire St Laurence Church, located in Forres town centre, from the Church of Scotland. They will use the building for musical events, exhibitions, community lunches and life events. 

Swinton Community Hub (SCIO) 

Award £53,274 

Swinton Community Hub (SCH) will acquire Swinton Kirk in Swinton, the Scottish Borders, through a negotiated sale from the Church of Scotland. The group will develop the church for use as a community hub, arts and entertainment space, which will combat social isolation and provide an accessible meeting space. 

The Brig Inn Community Pub & Hub Ltd 

Award £95,110 

The Brig Inn Community Pub & Hub will purchase, through negotiated sale, The Brig Inn in Brydekirk, Dumfries and Galloway, from a private seller. The group will refurbish the property into a community-owned pub and hub. They will offer a licensed cafe/bar serving food and drink, a small community shop, and a flexible space for community groups to use. A later development will be to refurbish the upstairs two-bedroom flat to provide accommodation for affordable rent.