An ambitious project to breathe new life into one of Dundee's oldest buildings is well on course, says the University of Dundee planner who is leading the project.
Neil Grieve of the University's School of Town and Regional Planning is chief executive of the Tayside Building Preservation Trust (TBPT) which has embarked on the £3.2 million plan to renovate the historic Gardyne's Land into a youth hostel.
Neil will be sharing the latest news about the project's progress at a special reception held at Gardyne's Land tomorrow evening, with the aim of generating local and national support for the restoration.
He said, "The oldest part of Gardyne's Land dates back more than 400 years and it is historic buildings such as these which form the anchor or identity of a town. It would be a tragedy to lose that major part of Dundee's heritage so we are trying to impress on local business and national charities and funding bodies the importance of restoring it and giving it a modern-day use.
"The initial work to make the buildings wind and water-tight has now been completed and the next stage is to fully restore the buildings and convert them into a youth hostel. We hope sufficient funds will be raised to allow us to begin fully restoring the buildings the end of next year."
Gardyne's Land is a generic term for three buildings which group around a courtyard in the centre of Dundee. Two of the buildings face onto the high street, one is a tenement of c1640, the other is a Victorian retail outlet of c 1870, with accommodation above, which incorporates fabric from an earlier building. To the rear is a Merchant's House of c1560, whose first owner was John Gardyne, who has given his name to the complex.
Following a major 1996 feasibility study, the TBPT began the process of renovating the buildings - no small task, since some of them had lain empty for more than 40 years.
It was decided to develop Gardyne's Land as a youth hostel since Dundee lacks one at the moment and the major funding bodies, which include Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, will only fund the restoration of a building with a sustainable use. The Scottish Youth Hostel Association has pledged to buy the completed premises.
For more information, contact Neil Grieve at the Tayside Buildings Preservation Trust office at Gardyne's Land on 01382 200167.
Tayside Building Preservation Trust is a company limited by guarantee with charitable status which exists to restore and return to productive use buildings of architectural or historic interest which are at risk in Tayside. The Trust aims to undertake all of its work to the highest possible standard using traditional methods and materials. The Trust also seeks to improve existing skills and methodology in conservation through its choice of building professionals and contractors.
By Jane Smernicki, Press Officer 01382 344768 j.m.smernicki@dundee.ac.uk