Technology future for former sugar refinery as project shares in £1,563,608 of funding from Scottish Land Fund
30 September 2025
This grant is one of 15 totalling £1,563,608 for community asset projects across Scotland, announced today by the Scottish Land Fund.
A Grade B Listed, five storey former sugar refinery in Greenock is to become a technical and creative community hub, with a focus on STEAM skills (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) and community learning following a grant of £197,200 from the Scottish Land Fund.
The money, which has been awarded to Creative Regeneration, will be used to purchase the building and adjacent land, known as The Glebe, in order to provide flexible accommodation, community spaces, office space and creative and technical workshops to be delivered by business, third sector and community partners.
The grant is one of 15 totalling £1,563,608 for community asset projects across Scotland, announced today by the Scottish Land Fund.
Other projects funded today include Rannoch Community Trust Limited, which has received £160,411 to acquire a development plot in the village of Kinloch Rannoch from a private seller in order to build twelve community-led affordable homes for rent, and Milton Food Hub and Community Garden in Glasgow, which has been awarded £157,635 to purchase its current base, St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Milton, from where it will continue to bring people together and deliver local services, including a people’s fridge, a community cafe and space for groups and activities.
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2021. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets for over a decade.
Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary, Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, said: “The projects benefitting from this round of the Fund will have a positive impact on so many people’s lives. I am delighted to see so many successful bids from right across Scotland. That is one of the real strengths of the Scottish Land Fund, whether you live in urban or rural Scotland, access to land and buildings matters, and the Scottish Land Fund enables that to happen. I want to thank each of the groups for the work they have done so far, from purchasing land for further development or creating welcoming, useful spaces for businesses and individuals in their communities, all of these projects will make a real difference.”
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “The Scottish Land Fund Committee is delighted to fund diverse groups in both urban and rural environments to take ownership of key community assets, in order to provide the services that they have identified as being essential in their local areas.”
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at HIE, said: “These projects show the power of communities taking the lead in shaping their own future. By securing vital assets, they’re protecting essential services while creating spaces that support jobs, attract visitors and bring people together. Community ownership gives the tools to drive long-term change, strengthening the local economy and building resilience for generations to come. We’re looking forward to seeing what these ventures achieve next.”
Bruce Newlands, Co-founder, Creative Regeneration, said: “Creative regeneration are delighted to receive support from the Scottish Land Fund for the acquisition of what promises to be a transformational project for Inverclyde. Not only will the project save the last remnant of the sugar refining industry in Greenock, providing interpretative background on the social history of the sugar industry over the last 200 years, but it will help create a world class community learning facility focused on a STEAM makerspace to encourage and support young innovators, a digital production space for the internationally recognised theatre group Vanishing Point, Retrofit Hub and a National Stained Glass School."
Danielle Blair, Trustee, Rannoch Community Trust, said: "We are delighted that our application to the Scottish Land Fund has been successful - it marks a significant milestone in what has been a long journey to provide more, much needed affordable housing for the community of Rannoch. Although we still have some way to go, the fact that we have secured the funds to acquire the site for 12 community owned affordable homes gives us real confidence that this project can and will be delivered."
And Rachel McMahon, Treasurer, Milton Food Hub, said: "We are delighted to have received this grant award from the Scottish Land Fund. In Milton, we’ve long understood the value of coming together as a community. It’s this sense of togetherness that makes our area unique. Community ownership of the Milton Food Hub is a chance to put the power back in the hands of the people who live here. The grant helps us to achieve this vision."
Other groups receiving funding
Chapelhall Community Development Group
Award £40,000
Chapelhall Community Development Trust (CCDT) will acquire a development plot of land through a Community Asset Transfer (CAT) from North Lanarkshire Council (NLC). Following acquisition, the group intends to build a modular two storey community hub for residents of Chapelhall. The hub will encourage social interaction, community integration and provide a space for local activities and events.
Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO
Award £208,469
Dunvegan Community Trust SCIO (DCT) will purchase three sections of the Orbost Estate in northwest Skye via a negotiated sale from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). Cruachan Woodland will be purchased to develop two woodland crofts with house sites. Included in the same title is Cnoc nan Craobh, which will be purchased for continued use as a public amenity and to improve biodiversity. Orbost Farmhouse will be purchased to create two homes for affordable rent.
Egilsay Community Association
Award £56,858
Egilsay Community Association will acquire the Egilsay Community Centre and the adjoining School House through a negotiated sale from Orkney Islands Council (OIC). The project will safeguard the only remaining public building on the island. The group will use the assets to create an inclusive, and accessible community hub which will be adapted into a multi-functional space that serves residents and visitors in a way that supports the specific needs of the small and geographically isolated population.
Ford Village Hall Ltd
Award £123,774
Ford Village Hall Ltd will acquire the woodland at Torran Bay, near the village of Ford at the southern end of Loch Awe, Argyll and Bute from a private seller. The group will improve community access to the loch and native woodland by creating accessible paths, parking facilities and moorings. They will develop local water sport clubs and activities, creating picnic and swimming areas, and storage facilities for small boats and paddle craft. Natural habitats will be improved for biodiversity and visitors, supporting people’s health and wellbeing.
Glenlivet and Inveravon Community Association
Award £27,299
Glenlivet and Inveravon Community Association (GICA) will acquire Inveravon Church in Ballindalloch through negotiated sale from the Church of Scotland (CoS). The group intends to reopen it as a space for community gatherings, historical interest, worship, reflection and life events.
Nigg Community Hall SCIO
Award £32,354
Nigg Community Hall SCIO will acquire Nigg Community Hall in Nigg, Highlands through the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme (OPTS) administered by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR). The group will reclaim and improve the hall, creating a community hub. The space will provide venue hire for community groups, sports activities, life events and private functions. In addition, the group will host concerts, community events and other activities.
Oban and District Development Trust
Award £219,400
Oban and District Development Trust (ODDT) will purchase a retail unit on George Street in Oban through negotiated sale from a private seller. The group will lease the property to existing tenants, a collective of local third sector organisations who operate the space as a food pantry, charity shop, repair shop and community hub.
Sandness Community Development Ltd
Award £12,045
Sandness Community Development Ltd will purchase three assets collectively known as Melby Pier in Sandness, Shetland from Shetland Islands Council and two private owners. The group will develop the pier, making it safe and accessible for use by the local community and tourists. The site will act as an outdoor hub for community events such as seashore and water-based pursuits. Facilities will be upgraded providing public toilets, showers, car parking with EV charging, and campervan and camping böd provision.
Solas Eige SCIO
Award £92,703
Solas Eige SCIO will acquire St Columba’s Church located on the Isle of Eigg from the Church of Scotland. The group will transform the church into the Solas Eige Centre, a vibrant cultural and educational centre for residents and visitors. It will provide flexible indoor and outdoor space for community gatherings and exhibitions, Eigg’s Community Archive, heritage engagement, and space for reflection. Accommodation, toilets and parking will be created. There will be a focus on providing employment, training and volunteering opportunities for the local community.
Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO
Award £79,860
Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry SCIO (SRASCIO) will acquire the former Roy Bridge Primary school, via a Community Asset Transfer from Highland Council, for the purposes of housing. The Victorian school building will be retained (converted to holiday lets with a view to generating income, before potentially being offered as homes to rent) and other buildings demolished, to build seven new homes for affordable rent. An existing multi use games area will also be retained for community use.
The Langholm Initiative
Award £68,000
The Langholm Initiative will purchase an existing three-bedroom home that is currently tenanted, from a private seller in Langholm, Dumfries and Galloway. In the short term, the group will continue to use the property to provide affordable rented accommodation that will be added to the group’s portfolio of rental properties.
Tighnabruaich District Development Trust
Award £87,600
Tighnabruaich District Development Trust (TDDT) will acquire a petrol station at Tighnabruaich on the Cowal Peninsula. TDDT will continue to operate the site as a petrol station and develop the existing building into two hireable workshop units. The site will also serve as a resilience hub. The project will deliver community benefit by retaining an essential source of fuel for residents, visitors and local emergency services.
Contacts
SLF/National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Press Office
Highland and Islands Enterprise Press Office
Notes to editors
The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2016. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, both of which have extensive experience of helping communities to acquire and develop their assets..
The SLF Committee was appointed following the normal procedures for public appointments.
The National Lottery Community Fund distributes lottery funding to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. It also uses its expertise in grant-giving to distribute non-Lottery funding. Full details of the National Lottery Community Fund programmes and grant awards are available on the website: www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk. National Lottery Community Fund Public Enquiries Line call: 0300 123 7110
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) delivers the Scottish Government Economic Strategy across more than half of Scotland - from Shetland to Argyll and from the Hebrides to Moray. It aims to support businesses and social enterprises; strengthen communities and fragile areas; develop
key sectors, and create the conditions for a competitive and low carbon region. HIE has an annual budget of more than £75 m and employs around 300 people in locations around the Highlands and Islands. See more at www.hie.co.uk