The funding has been awarded by the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), which is delivered by the Scottish Government in partnership with COSLA and local government.

The RCGF is intended to support locally developed place-based regeneration projects that involve local communities, helping to tackle inequalities and deliver inclusive growth in deprived, disadvantaged and fragile remote communities across Scotland.

The total of £1,199,383 has been awarded to Carluke High Mill in partnership with South Lanarkshire Council and Carluke Development Trust, and it is now hoped that work will start on the restoration project in May this year.

The High Mill is a historic set of buildings and former market garden within 500m of Carluke Town Centre.

Phase 1 of the work will deliver significant, positive economic and social impacts for Carluke’s people, communities and businesses through the creation of a community-led facility that will be the central element of the new Carluke High Mill heritage centre and ONECarluke Community Growing and Learning Garden.

This phase of the work will repair, repurpose and refurbish the A-listed Mill Tower, Thresher Barn, Kiln and Miller’s Cottage, resulting in a single building. RCGF support will enable the historic elements of the building to be protected and repaired, repurposing it to provide increased opportunities for the surrounding communities in, for example, employment, training, heritage, traditional and non-traditional skills, gardening and volunteering.

Once repaired, the building will be the central element of the new Carluke High Mill Heritage Centre and ONECarluke Community Growing and Learning Garden providing significant resources to enable the delivery of wide-ranging opportunities, and will be the catalyst to unlocking the future potential of the whole site and wider regeneration of Carluke.

Councillor Robert Brown, Chair of Community and Enterprise Resources at South Lanarkshire Council, said: “The council is committed to resilient, inclusive local economies and this portfolio of capital investment in our communities is a great example of community wealth building in action. This investment will revitalise local communities by creating jobs and growing the local economy through this ambitious and innovative project.

“I am delighted that the council was able to play a significant role in securing this award as the project will offer a bespoke solution to unique market failures, while also strengthening the surrounding communities in its role as a sustainable economic hub and sparking growth and further investment.

“I look forward to seeing it take shape and to watching the long-lasting, positive, transformational change it will bring to the people of Carluke.”

Tom Sneddon, Chair of Carluke Development Trust, said: “This is brilliant news – it is a very important and crucial first step in pulling together the financial sums required to bring this important local and national landmark back to life. 

“It will be great to get the contractors on site to demonstrate progress after all the years of hard work by our communities. This grant will help to make things happen and will make a real difference.”