A historic community building in the heart of Whithorn is set to reopen later this year following a major renovation made possible thanks to an £80,000 funding boost from our Transmission Net Zero Fund.
Whithorn Old Town Hall - which is owned and operated by social enterprise and youth employability scheme, Building Futures Galloway - was constructed in 1814 and has laid vacant since the building closed its doors in 2011. The ambitious project has so far seen the installationof a new air source heat pump along with extensive insulation upgrades using traditional lime-stone native to the Galloway area.
Building Futures Galloway is using the renovations as a means of providing training to local young people - teaching the next generation valuable skills, including the historic lime-stone techniques.
The social enterprise was founded in 2021 and offers young people aged 18-25 opportunities to learn traditional construction skills, ranging from joinery to masonry and blacksmithing.
The organisation is one of the recipients of our Transmission Net Zero Fund - a £5million funding pot designed to support vulnerable communities across Central and Southern Scotland and ensureno one is left behind in the country's journey to net zero emissions.
Scott Mathieson, Network Planning and Regulation Director at SP Energy Networks, said: "Our team and infrastructure are deeply embedded in southern Scotland and it's essential that we're empowering local communities to access the advantages that zero-emission energy offers.
"Building Futures Galloway is a shining example of the creativity and ingenuity we're seeing from the projects backed by our Net Zero Fund recipients. We're proud to be a part of protecting not just an iconic local building but also safeguarding historic construction techniques by creating skilled tradespeople who can carry them into the future."
Throughout the project, Building Futures Galloway has welcomed groups of local school pupils and members of the public on to the site to see the progress first-hand and learn more about the methods used in the renovation.
The installation of high performing lime-based insulation measures alone is set to improve thermal performance in the two-hundred-year-old building and bring it in line with targets set for modern new builds. With the addition of the new air source heat pump, it is anticipated that the project will reduce emissions by as much as 59%.
Once completed, the hall will act as a base for local charities and also host exhibitions about the town's history.
Speaking on the support, Julia Muir Watt, Finance Volunteer at Building Futures Galloway, said: "This has been a landmark project for us. We know from speaking to members of the community, and from listening to feedback from those who have come along to our visits, just how much the restoration of the Old Town Hall means to Whithorn.
"With the support of SP Energy Networks, we've been able to restore a building that was once the heart of the town and create an affordable and environmentally friendly space for a whole host of groups to take advantage of.
"The progress made so far is testament to the skills of the young people working on the project - who have all embraced traditional methods to create something that is truly special."
A host of charities and organisations supporting communities across Scotland have been awarded funding from our Net Zero Fund to introduce innovative net zero technology. The groups have received grants to help them decarbonise and reach their net zero targets sooner, with projects ranging from installation of heat pumps and renewable energy solutions to the purchase of electric vehicles and retrofitting listed buildings to increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.