Brookwood Villa in Bearsden has reopened as a fabulous community venue following an extensive revamp by East Dunbartonshire Council.
The full restoration of the Victorian blonde sandstone building is now complete, having started last year. The renovated two-storey villa, situated on Bearsden’s Drymen Road, will serve as a base for a variety of community groups, including a nursery and after school provision.
The £2m extensive refurbishment is the result of a landmark agreement between East Dunbartonshire Council, partner hub West Scotland and contractor Linear Design and Construct.
Scottish Government funding of £930,000 was secured for the project via the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. Work started in October 2022 and the final landscaping was completed in June 2023.
Improvements include the internal reconfiguration of the building, the replacement of all the services, repairs to the stonework, windows and roof and improvements to the external access. The magnificent portico, which previously stood at the front entrance, has been carefully dismantled and repaired and is now incorporated into the landscaping at the rear.
Calum Smith, Depute Council Leader said, "I am delighted to see Brookwood Villa restored to its former glory. This much-loved community asset has long been a landmark in Bearsden, and it has been wonderful to watch it come back to life in recent months.
"The new Brookwood represents a significant investment by the Council in Bearsden town centre,
and for those - like me - who have fond memories of it as the local library, it will be wonderful to see the building being used by a new whole generation.”
Kevin Doyle, Operations Director at hub West Scotland said, “The project created a fantastic opportunity for us to partner with the Council to deliver the full restoration of Brookwood Villa. Our team fully embraced the challenges that a restoration project brings and should be immensely proud of the high quality they have delivered in bringing this beautiful building back to life”.
Brookwood Villa will now be run on a long-term basis by the Brookwood Community Trust, a group of volunteers who live in the G61 postcode. The Trust, a registered charity, will assume responsibility for the management and operation of the venue and ensure that the community facility will be put to the best use to enhance the lives of people living in the local area.
Trustee Keith Small, said, “As the leaseholders, Brookwood Community Trust is delighted that East Dunbartonshire Council committed to retain Brookwood as a community facility.
“This much-loved building has had a number of community uses over the years and now is the home of Maxholme Nursery, providing much needed early years learning for local children. It is hoped that local people will also use Brookwood, outwith nursery hours, to benefit the community.”
Follow us on Twitter @EDCouncil or like us at www.facebook.com/edunbartonshirecouncil