Village hall to be redeveloped thanks to REF

Published: Monday 5 January 2026

This is an exterior image of Glassford Community Hall which is to receive just under £700,000 from the council-administered Renewable Energy Fund

Funding from the council-administered Renewable Energy Fund (REF) is to help with the redevelopment of Glassford Village Hall.

Councillors agreed the REF should award the project by Glassford Community Group (GCG) just under £700,000, with the total cost of the redevelopment costing more than £2.1 million.

The grant will be funded from Dungavel and Kype Muir Windfarms which contribute to the REF.

The remaining funding, which is still to be confirmed, is proposed to come from the Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, Kype Muir Community Fund, the National Lottery and a VAT refund.

When complete, the project will be equipped with a community café facility, function hall, small activity rooms, stage area and a lettable retail space that will support the long-term sustainability of the facility.

The grant will allow GCG to commence with the redevelopment of the hall in line with the finalised design which was granted planning consent in August 2024. The build will be phased over three financial years.

Chair of Glassford Community Group, Les Hoggan, said: “I would like to thank the committee for approving this grant and also the council officers who have been so supportive throughout the application process.

“This grant will go a long way to help transform the village hall into the community hub that the community of Glassford needs.”

Chair of the council’s Community and Enterprise Resources Committee, Councillor Robert Brown, said: “It’s great news for the residents of Glassford and surrounding areas that the REF can help contribute towards the redeveloped village hall.

“It will provide a real focal point for the local community and Glassford Community Group deserve huge credit for the time and effort they have put in to get the project to this stage.”