Argyll businesses and homes saved by ambitious buildings restoration

Businesses and homes have been saved, and new jobs created in Campbeltown with the completion of an ambitious £350,000 buildings restoration project.Property owners and Argyll and Bute Council have worked together to secure funding and organise repairs that will keep 10-20 Longrow South home to a butcher, fishmonger and florist, and to six families’ flats.In addition, a new business is being launched, following work to bring back into use two units, one of which had been vacant for 20 years, and the other closed since 2014 because of issues with the building.A new restaurant opens this week in the newly converted single venue at 10-12 Longrow South, bringing with it five local jobs.With support from the Council the owners of the properties formed an Owners Association to agree and arrange the repair and renovation work.The project was financed by contributions from property owners, Private Sector Housing Grant and by funding successfully secured for Campbeltown by the Council through Historic Environment Scotland’s Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme. The internal conversion of two units into one at 10-12 Longrow South was funded privately by the owner and tenant.The work involved repairs to the fabric of the building, including full re-roofing, leadwork and stonework.Work was also done to replace the first floor decked area at the rear of the building, whose collapse in 2014 led to the closure of the café previously housed there.The new deck provides a fully insulated, reinforced roof for the commercial units and a communal area for residents to use.The new restaurant at 10-12 Longrow South opens Friday 30 June 2017.