Technical Notes 2025, Issue 81 - Lennoxtown Regeneration Project Update

• The purpose of this Technical Note is to provide Elected Members with end-of-stage updates and details on progress towards key milestones with the Lennoxtown Regeneration Project, including the following:
  
  
  • Completion of RIBA stages
  • Construction
  • Procurement
  • Project Phasing
  • Funding
  • Communications strategy
• There are currently three component projects being delivered as part of the Lennoxtown Regeneration Project, Campsie Memorial Hall; Main Street; and Greenspace.
• The development of each project has been guided by stakeholder engagement and community consultations, identifying local issues. This includes a design charrette in 2016, place-based research informing the Lennoxtown Place Plan 2018-2023 (later replaced by the Locality Plan) and community and stakeholder design consultations to develop RIBA designs for each project.
• Lennoxtown is situated at the gateway to the Campsie Fells, an area renowned for its scenic walking and cycling routes. However, the village faces socio-economic challenges; it is one of four areas of need within East Dunbartonshire.
• The village centre lies within the 10% most deprived data zones nationally on the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and is 2nd most deprived area in the Council area. The ‘place’ approach is being used to help tackle some of the issues affecting the area and residents.
• Corporate Communications are developing a communications plan for the Lennoxtown Regeneration Project. This will include a dedicated website with regular updates, ensuring residents and visitors to the area are aware of potential disruption.
• Construction strategies for all three projects will be produced as needed to minimise local impact, though some disruption will be unavoidable. This will include the use of two car parks within the village centre for construction site compounds, the first adjacent to the Campsie Memorial Hall Carpark and the second opposite School Lane, owing to the lack of suitable alternative sites.

Main Street

• This update follows on from report (PNCA/013/24/DG) to the Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets Committee (PNCA) on 23 May 2024, which approved the progression of the RIBA stage 3 designs and instructed Officers to proceed onto RIBA stage 4. Officers were further approved to procure a main works contractor should funding allow and phase construction accordingly based on available funds. The outcome of any contractor procurement exercise will be presented to a future meeting of the PNCA seeking authorisation to proceed to contract financial close.
• The project aims to support the regeneration of Lennoxtown’s village centre by:
  • Rebalancing the street to prioritise pedestrian movement and activity.
  • Supporting cyclists and promoting cycle safety.
  • Creating a welcoming village centre that appeals to residents and visitors, through placemaking and public realm enhancements.
  • Introducing calming measures to reduce the speed of through traffic.
• It will be delivered over two phases, subject to annual funding awards. The outcome of an application for Phase 1 funding is expected in the coming weeks, which if successful will trigger the commencement of procurement to appoint the required external technical services and contractor.
• Phase 1 works will focus on the area of Lennoxtown Main Street from Crosshill Street to School Lane. It will deliver traffic calming measures, material upgrades and landscaping enhancements to improve the safety and aesthetic appeal of the street. Phase 1 will also include landscaping improvements to the Campsie Memorial Hall Gardens, complimenting the refurbishment of the building, along with resurfacing of the adjacent car park.
• Phase 1 construction is estimated to start late 2025 and conclude Spring 2026 subject to funding.
• The total funding award for Phase 1 works is predicted to be £1.4m, comprising £1m from Transport Scotland’s Active Travel Infrastructure Fund, supplemented by contributions from the EDC Capital Programme, UK Shared Prosperity and Levelling Up Funds, SPT Capital Fund, and SG Place Based Investment Fund subject to decisions and grant awards. Officers have been working with consultants to implement value engineering measures, ensuring project costs remain within the funding cap.

Greenspace

• The Greenspace project aims to improve local wellbeing and encourage greater use of Lennoxtown’s greenspaces through the repurposing of disused red blaes pitches at Station Road Park and Ferguson Park for outdoor recreation and biodiversity enhancements. This will be complimented by improved pedestrian and cycle routes and onward connections to the John Muir way.
• RIBA Stage 2 Concept Design for the Project was completed in November 2023. The design process was informed through community consultation in June 2023.
• As the Project’s delivery is contingent on securing funding, it has been divided into two phases to streamline this process and increase the likelihood of securing resources. A successful application has been made to the Scottish Government Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) to cover to cover Phase 1 works resulting in an award of £472,952.
• Phase 1 will focus on Station Road Park where the key interventions will include:
  
  • Improved wayfinding and enhanced access points
  • New pathways and improved connectivity
  • Community growing area
  • Planting of native species and fauna
  • Landscaping features such as benches and art installations
  • Renewed fencing to the grass football pitch
  • Outdoor play space
• Planning permission is not expected to be required as the project falls within Local Authority Permitted Development Rights (Class 33). However, a certificate of lawfulness will be sought to ensure there is formal confirmation of this.
• Building on the RIBA Stage 2 Concept Design, a design consultant will be appointed to develop a coordinated technical design for Station Road Park once funding is confirmed. Officers have been working with internal services to refine the consultant brief, ensuring the proposals meet community needs, enhance the local ecology, and are practical to maintain.
• Following the Council’s successful application to the Scottish Government’s VDLIP the terms dictate a construction contract must be in place for December 2025. Once in place this allows the Council to fully draw down the funding and undertake the works in 2026 when the conditions are most suitable.

Campsie Memorial Hall

• The purpose of this project is the regeneration of the outdated and underused Campsie Memorial Hall to create the principal Town Hall facility for Lennoxtown and to offer a better base for services and activities, to become the cultural heart of the town and enticing as a venue for visitors from out-with the area.
• It involves the major refurbishment of outdated Victorian era Hall facilities with state-of-the-art frontage entrance to improve community space and facilities of benefit to local people and visitors and add to the regeneration of Main Street and town centre. The revitalised hall has 3 key themes:
  • Community Services: family and children support, mental health, addictions, isolation, jobs
  • Community Food: improved kitchen and servery and base for community food services
  • Arts and Culture: with a Main Hall and stage this maximises use of venue for arts, theatre, dance & drama; for recreation, health and for performances to draw a wider audience
• Introduction of renewable energy technology (Air Source Heat Pump and Solar PV) as part of the hall regeneration and insulation of community building will improve energy performance of the refurbished facilities and contribute to achieving net zero ambitions.
• The enhanced hall, run under community management will provide a better venue for activities and services, introducing new services and activities in partnership with public and voluntary organisations to improve life chances & wellbeing & social enterprise to strengthen the economy.
• With a preferred contractor and full funding package in place (Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, EDC Capital Programme and Garfield Weston Foundation) the refurbishment works have commenced on an eight-month investment programme to enable the refurbished modernised facilities to reopen in early 2026.