An award of £636,999 was recently agreed by the Fund - which is financed by SSE and administered by South Lanarkshire Council – to help achieve long-term plans by Biggar RFC to improve its clubhouse and create a new, fully-accessible community gym. 

An additional £163,000 grant from SSE Renewables, together with the club’s own fundraising efforts, could allow work to begin on the new gym within months, enabling the club to create one of the country’s premier sporting facilities.

In detail, the plans include: 

• A new gym and the clubhouse extension adding approx. 1000m2 to the existing facility 
• Modern and accessible changing rooms and toilet facilities 
• A new function suite seating up to 175 people 
• Large reception and foyer, new kitchen, and bar 

 

The improved grounds and clubhouse will further ensure that the more than 19 teams and 350 players of Biggar RFC, as well as those of Biggar United FC, have a modern, fit-for-purpose home for existing and future generations. 

The gym will offer 24/7 access not just to members, but to the wider community, through a membership scheme, and the playpark, a hugely popular family favourite, will also be retained but rebuilt bigger and better in a new location. 

In addition, the entire development is working towards a ‘carbon neutral’ status following the installation of Photovoltaic (solar panels), also thanks to SSE Renewables. 

Anne Jefferies, the Community (Fund) Panel Chair said: “The Clyde Wind Farm Community Fund is pleased to support this exciting project which aims to provide a much-enhanced facility to rural South Lanarkshire. It demonstrates a strong community spirit to bring significant investment and improvements that support the local area and encourage local economic growth. 

“The club has worked hard over the past 11 years to develop the facilities and has always shown ambition to make things better for its players, members, and the wider community.

"This latest round of funding and applications will mean that Biggar will be home to some of the very best facilities of this kind anywhere in Scotland.” 

Added Club President Rab Ramsay: “The Club is grateful for the awards which will ensure that those involved in sport will have the very best of facilities both on and off the field of play. In fact, this is a fantastic outcome for the wider Biggar community, and I look forward to seeing it being brought into use before the 50th anniversary of Biggar RFC in 2025.” 

The Clyde Wind Farm Fund is designed to bring community benefit opportunities to South Lanarkshire settlements within a 15km radius of Clyde Wind Farm. Over the life of the Fund, it’s expected that £17.5m will have been invested in local projects with an average of just less than £1m awarded annually.