Current Projects

Dunoon Burgh Hall

SBPT are delighted to confirm that we have been appointed by The Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust to act as Project Co-ordinator for the remainder of The Burgh Hall Capital Project. Over the next few weeks tenders will be issued via the Public Contracts Scotland Portal for the rest of the Consultant Team.  

Dunoon Burgh Hall was the first project taken on by SBPT since recommencing operations in 2005.  The Trust was commissioned in 2006 by the then building owners Fyne Homes to undertake an Options Appraisal to consider new uses for the building.  The Trust has maintained involvement with the project since then.

A summary of the history of the project follows. 

• 2007 Options Appraisal Report completed: the study indicated that the building could function as a viable community run arts venue if a sufficiently strong local group was available to take it on.
• 2007-2008 the Dunoon Burgh Hall Friends Group work on their proposals to take on the building and maintain contact with SBPT.
• December 2008 the building is bought by the John McAslan Family Trust (JMFT) who are committed to work with the local community to bring about the vision of creating an accessible arts led venue at the heart of the community in Dunoon.
• January to May 2009: the JMFT funds works to allow the Burgh Hall to come back into use, focusing on repairs to the roof, removal of material affected by dry rot, bringing heating and lighting back into use and providing three usable spaces: the main hall, a gallery on the ground floor and a general office and meeting room for the Friends group.
• May 2010 over 2000 people attend an open day in the Burgh Hall. 

• 2010 SBPT is commissioned by the JMFT to update the Options Appraisal on the basis of the formation of a Project Group.  The update is positive, suggesting the formation of a Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust which will ultimately take on ownership of the building from the JMFT.
• 2010: formation of the Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust with Directors from the local community and beyond.  The DBHT works with a Project Group of volunteers to develop the use of the building which by the end of the year includes a range of activities on most days of the week.
• December 2010: the DBHT is successful in securing a £15,000 Project Development Grant from the Architectural Heritage Fund which is used to engage SBPT to work with the Project to develop a strategy for moving forward and to work up funding applications for development and capital funding.
• In early 2011 SBPT prepared a Repairs Grant application on behalf of the DBHT and this was submitted to Historic Scotland in March.  The application was accepted with an initial assessment of grant of up to £161,000 being awarded. 
• In June 2011 SBPT submitted a Round 1 Heritage Grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund on behalf of the DBHT which was approved in September 2011.  This provided £55,100 of development funding which has been matched by successful applications to The Argyll & The Islands LEADER Programme: £78,000 and the Architectural Heritage Fund: £8,000.  This full funding for the development of the project is based on a total estimated project cost in the region of £1.3 million.

 The next stage of the project is to procure a team of consultants to assist the Project Group with the development of the project.  This process will include a range of fundraising activities as well as the design of works which will be undertaken as part of the capital phase of the project.  The target for the final completion of the building project is April 2015.  For more information please visit the Dunoon Burgh Hall web site.

The Dunoon Burgh Hall Trust are delighted that they have been chosen as one of the venues for Artists Rooms on Tour in 2012.  From March to June the Burgh Hall will host an exhibition of photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe. Work is underway to upgrade the gallery space to accommodate these important works.  The refurbished space will open before Christmas this year with an exhibition of pictures produced by pupils at Dunoon Grammar School.