More than £3.2 million has been awarded to Glasgow City Council from the Scottish Government's Place fund to aid 11 community projects throughout the city.
The fund allows local authorities to work with their communities, businesses and third sector organisations to develop projects that support the improvement of life and work for local residents.
Key themes associated with the fund include 20-minute neighbourhoods, town centre regeneration, community-led regeneration and community wealth building.
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The 11 projects in Glasgow that will benefit from the fund in Glasgow include a renovation of the Bridgeton Library café, public realm works at Old Dumbarton Road, phase two of Possilpark Heritage Shop Front Programme and Ruchazie Café.
The Braes Shopping Centre in Castlemilk, an update of the Broomfield Centre, upgrading community facilities at The Circle Energy and Sustainability in Easterhouse, and the delivery of a new food pantry at the Glenavon Community Hub have also been backed, while funding will go towards the completion of sports hub in Greater Pollok, including a new community pavilion.
Environmental improvements to The Braes will help boost the local economy and help small retail businesses succeed while the refurbishment of two shop units next to the existing Ruchazie food pantry helped to create a social kitchen and community cafe.
It follows £3.6 million provided through the Place Fund during 2021/22, with projects supported including carbon free Govanhill; Hamiltonhill green infrastructure project; Laurieston Community Rooms; Parkhead Pantry Garden; Queensland Community Park; Treehills Community Supermarket and Tollcross Winter Gardens.
Councillor Kenny McLean, convener for development, built heritage and land use at Glasgow City Council, said: “The support of the Place Fund will allow these projects – in areas around Glasgow – to improve local communities in a number of ways.
“From making fresh food more accessible and improving local facilities, to supporting town centre regeneration and encouraging sustainability, this funding will benefit our neighbourhoods.”
Three of the projects - The Braes, Ruchazie Café and the public realm works at Old Dumbarton Road - scheduled for funding in the original period. New projects benefiting from the funding are:
The Circle - £52,390: Upgrading of existing community facility and business development centre in Easterhouse town centre including installation of solar panels, heating system, Electric Vehicle charge points and more efficient lighting. The facility will be used to run workshops, provide advice & support in energy efficiency and carbon reduction and provide a warm bank.
North West Community Pantry- £42,900: - Transformation of existing rundown allotment space into thriving, productive & educational growing space in Yoker. Works include creation of raised beds, provision of sheltered outdoor patio/cooking space, tools, and secure shed for storage.
Possilpark Shopfronts- £203,587 - Phase 2 of Possilpark shopfronts improvements to shop units on Saracen St as part of wider community-based Business Improvement District in regeneration of Possil Town Centre .
Community Net Zero Hub: £49,500- Installation of a portable water connection so the building can be used. Commission design team (architect, engineer and utilities engineer) to take forward the project to detailed design stage for the wider project (net zero hub) based in Queen’s Park.
Glenavon: £140,148 - Development of community hub in Gilshochill with delivery of food pantry in first instance followed by enhancement of facility by reinsulating, lowering ceilings, renewal of windows and installation of wall insulation.
Bridgeton Library: £178,267- Renovation of library café and improvement to main operating area. This includes upgrades to the servery, new surfaces, flooring and ceiling in café area
Broomfield Centre: £83,000- Internal and external upgrade to existing facility in Barmulloch. Works include installation of new sloped roof, hybrid heating system and improved accessibility. Pods and aquaponic and hydroponic growing systems will be installed, electrical works undertaken & a new floor layout produced to increase lettable space.
Hillwood Community Sports Hub: £153,600 - Funding required to support completion of sports hub in Greater Pollok, including a new community pavilion which would enable the Trust to deliver wider range of social, recreational and sport activity for local people.
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