A grant from a major national funder has allowed Cumbernauld Cottage Trust to take an important step toward its goal of reopening the former Cumbernauld Theatre building as a new community facility.
The cottages that housed the theatre were officially deemed as surplus by North Lanarkshire Council earlier this year.
They are situated on Braehead Road in the Kildrum area of Cumbernauld, and originally formed part of the estate of Cumbernauld House.
Now a grant from Scottish Land Fund means that the CCT can bring in expert consultants to support the development of the Business Plan that they need to demonstrate that the project is something that is achievable and sustainable.
The Cottage Trust is aslo now eligible to apply for Stage Two funding, which could provide a significant contribution towards the cost of purchasing the building from its current owner North Lanarkshire Council.
CCT Secretary Alison Russell told Lanarkshire Live : “We are all really encouraged by receiving this support from The Scottish Land Fund, which was set up to help rural and urban communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership and management of land and land assets.
"This grant means that we can wrap up our Community Asset Transfer application with the inclusion of a Business Plan we have confidence in and we will also be able to bring in surveyors to provide an independent valuation of the property.”
Cottage Trust chairman, Adam Smith - a noted local activist and historian - is also delighted by the award. He said: “The Cottage building means a lot to people, both to current residents of Cumbernauld and people elsewhere who have fond memories of the place.
"The front part of the building dates to the mid-eighteenth century and ought to be preserved as part of local heritage.
"Most importantly though, the re-opening of the Cottage will bring affordable and much-needed social space back to Kildrum, which has lost many of its community facilities and pubs over the last decade.”
You can find out more about the project and keep up to date by following the Trust's Facebook page.
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