25 January 2023
The funding was announced as part of the tenth round of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), a fund that supports projects in disadvantaged and rural communities across Scotland.
The Aros Waterfront site was bought by the Tobermory Harbour Association (THA) in 2019 with plans to develop it for the benefit of the local community.
The site is 1.5 miles from Tobermory and includes a pier, slipway and two deteriorating buildings. Aros Park is considered one of Mull’s finest natural experiences and the wider Aros area is estimated to be visited by c30,000 individuals every year.
The funding will help to transform the site into a hub of outdoor activities, community wellbeing projects and educational and enterprise opportunities.
The £403.5k investment will contribute to progressing the project’s first phase, combined with council investment allocated through Crown Estate.
Commenting on the announcement, THA stated that the funding would go towards regenerating the boathouse and creating a storage compound area, complementing the restoration plans for the pier and quayside.
Making a case for it
To access the development’s funding, Glic conducted social, economic and environmental impact assessments for THA.
The completed business case identified £2.8 million in benefits over a ten-year period, including 8.5 new FTE operational job posts, support for other planned developments, and enhanced value for the wider area.
Investing in regeneration
The RCGF was established in 2014 to support projects in disadvantaged and rural communities across Scotland.
23 community-based initiatives received funding in the 2023/24 round, totalling £26.7 million in investment from Scottish Government.
Alongside the Aros site development, Argyll & Bute Council received funding for another Mull-based project with the expansion of the Nonhebel Light Industrial Park.
Funding applications for the RCGF are invited annually from all local authorities as part of a two-stage process. The call for 2024/25 proposals will be announced by the end of April 2023.
The development of this website is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the 2014-20 Structural Funds Programmes.