First major work on multi-million pound Dumfries regeneration project to get under way

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The first major work on a multi-million pound regeneration project for Dumfries is set to get under way.The Midsteeple Quarter project has awarded the contract to transform The Oven site in the town’s High Street into new homes and business units to Cumbrian company RH Irving Construction.The community-owned enterprise has spent years raising funds to buy up shops close to the Midsteeple landmark to bring them back into new use.Peter Kormylo, chairman of Midsteeple Quarter, described it as “a significant milestone in a regeneration scheme which is attracting national interest”.He said: “We have reached an exciting moment in realising the vision that the people of Dumfries have for Midsteeple Quarter and for transforming our High Street.

This is a significant investment in the town’s future and one that we can all be proud of.“We are grateful for the tremendous support we continue to have from the community, funders, and so many others.

We cannot wait for work to begin and are looking forward to working with RH Irving.”The former Baker’s Oven building was transferred from Dumfries and Galloway Council into community ownership through the Midsteeple Quarter Project in November 2018 and it received planning permission and conservation area consent in August 2020.

Last year, detailed site assessment and archaeological work took place preparing it for the phase one construction work which is expected to start within weeks and last 18 months.The building will be transformed and extended, creating enterprise space at ground level and part of the first floor with space for pop-up projects, one-off events, long-term units for hire, a retail unit and co-working area.There will also be seven flats on its upper floors which will be