Sanquhar Enterprise Company: Restoring Community Heritage
Sanquhar Enterprise Company (SEC) was awarded £30,594 of funding from the Whiteside Hill Windfarm Community Fund to restore and repurpose neglected buildings in the community.
Sanquhar Enterprise Company (SEC) was established in 2019 to serve the Sanquhar and District community in Dumfries and Galloway. SEC leads on the delivery of the 2022–2026 Sanquhar & District Community Action Plan, working to benefit the local community through regeneration, supporting those facing disadvantage, and providing recreational activities to improve quality of life.
SEC serves a local population of just over 2,200, working with partners and funders to bring lasting benefits to the Sanquhar community.
Queensberry Garages Restoration
For many years, three derelict buildings on the corner of Queensberry Square — once part of the former school complex — had been a source of concern for the Sanquhar community. Following engagement work carried out for the first Community Action Plan in 2015, residents consistently called for action to restore and repurpose these neglected buildings. SEC took up this challenge, working with the Community Asset Transfer Team at Dumfries and Galloway Council (DGC) to acquire the buildings for £1 through the Community Asset Transfer process, with the transfer completing in spring 2025.
With financial support secured from three funders including £30,594 from the Whiteside Hill Windfarm Community Fund — SEC raised the funding needed to restore the buildings and convert them into seven secure storage units.
Works were carried out by local contractors and completed in August 2025, using a blend of natural, modern, sustainable, and eco-friendly materials that reflect both the heritage and sustainability values of the project.
Craftsmanship, Heritage and Local Pride
The use of local tradespeople proved to be one of the project's greatest strengths. Throughout the build, contractors demonstrated exceptional care and sensitivity in restoring the buildings — most notably in their reuse of original Sanquhar bricks and floor tiles found on site, which were repurposed to form a new retaining wall and to renovate the floor of what was once a horse stable.
Traditional materials and methods were used throughout, with all doors and windows replaced with locally made units. The result is a row of buildings that retain their historic character while being fully fit for purpose once again. Neighbouring property owners also played a valuable role, providing rear access to the site which significantly helped speed up roof renovation works.
Minor delays were experienced due to material shortages, but these were quickly resolved and did not significantly impact the overall schedule. The project was warmly received by local residents, who praised the improvements to the townscape.
Community and Economic Benefit
Of the seven units created, two are now occupied by key local community groups — Sanquhar and District Community Council and The Riding of the Marches Group — providing them with clean, safe and secure storage for their resources. The remaining five units have been rented to local tradespeople, businesses and private tenants, in that order of priority, supporting the local economy and keeping activity and investment within the town.
The rental agreements now in place guarantee an annual income of £3,600, which will be used for the upkeep and insurance of the buildings as well as to help fund SEC's ongoing operations. This marks an important step in SEC's journey towards greater sustainability and resilience, reducing the organisation's dependence on grant funding.
Sanquhar Enterprise Company says;
| “SEC would like to thank our Funders that have enabled us to renovate the ex-Council buildings situated off Queensberry Square. As with any capital project there have been valuable lessons learned about the process and management of these types of project. However, the whole process has shown that SEC as an organisation is capable of undertaking such projects ending up with a valuable community asset, as a result.” |
Lessons and Future Development
The Queensberry Garages Restoration has provided SEC with several valuable insights that will inform future projects.
The value of engaging local contractors cannot be overstated. Their knowledge of traditional building techniques, combined with a genuine connection to the area, resulted in a quality of finish that would have been difficult to achieve otherwise. SEC will continue to prioritise local procurement in future capital projects.
The importance of building community consensus over time was also recognised. The fact that this project had been a community aspiration since 2015 meant that, when the opportunity arose, SEC had the backing and goodwill needed to move quickly and successfully. SEC plans to continue this approach of long-term community engagement in future development work.
This project is the first of what SEC hopes will be a series of income-generating assets, helping to build a more financially resilient organisation capable of delivering for the Sanquhar community long into the future.
Conclusion
The Queensberry Garages Restoration project has transformed three long-neglected buildings into a valued community asset, fulfilling a wish held by Sanquhar residents for over a decade. By combining heritage craftsmanship with modern sustainability, SEC has not only improved the aesthetics of Queensberry Square but created lasting social and economic value for the community.
The main impacts on the local community have included:
• Restoration and repurposing of a long-neglected historic building
• Provision of clean, safe and secure storage for community groups
• Support for local tradespeople, businesses and private tenants
• Improvement to the appearance and townscape of Queensberry Square
• Generation of sustainable annual income for SEC, reducing grant dependency
• Strengthening of community pride and sense of place
The success of this project leads the way for SEC's future endeavours, demonstrating that with the right partnerships, community-led organisations can breathe new life into neglected spaces and create assets that benefit residents for generations to come.
Read more about the Whiteside Hill Wind Farm Community Fund here.