The Gatehouse Development Initiative (GDI) is delighted to announce that it has secured £1,034,058 from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) alongside a further £300,000 award from the Town Centre Living Fund, to support the delivery of its community-led affordable housing development at the former Woodside Garage site.
The funding will enable essential site remediation and preparation works, alongside pre-contract surveys and the contractor tender process, marking a critical step in moving the project into its delivery phase.
This latest investment builds on the successful community buyout of the site in March 2026 and earlier support from the Scottish Land Fund. With land now in community ownership and over £1.3 million in development funding secured, the project is progressing with confidence toward construction.
The Woodside development will deliver a terrace of seven high-quality, low-carbon homes for affordable rent, designed to meet the needs of local people, including young adults and key workers with a strong connection to Gatehouse of Fleet.
The project responds directly to priorities identified through the Gatehouse Local Place Plan and extensive community consultation, where affordable housing was consistently identified as the town’s most urgent need. Once complete, the development will bring a long-derelict brownfield site back into productive use, contributing to the regeneration of the town centre and supporting the long-term sustainability of the community.
A Major Milestone for Delivery
The combined award of over £1.3 million represents a pivotal milestone, enabling the GDI and its partners to move forward with the detailed technical and procurement stages required to unlock construction.
GDI continues to work in close partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council, South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH), and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) to deliver the project.
Cllr Dougie Campbell, Dumfries & Galloway Council, said: “This is a hugely positive step forward for Gatehouse. Securing this level of investment means the community can now move from planning into delivery, transforming a long-derelict site into much-needed affordable homes. Projects like Woodside are vital to sustaining rural communities and ensuring that local people can continue to live and work in the town.”
Francois van der Zee, Chair, Gatehouse Development Initiative, said: “This is a transformational moment for the Woodside project. Securing over £1.3 million in funding allows us to undertake the essential preparation work needed to bring this site forward for development. We are now firmly on the path to delivering much-needed affordable homes for our community.”
Councillor Andy Ferguson, Dumfries & Galloway Council, said: “The Woodside development is an excellent example of community-led regeneration in action. The investment from both Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Scottish Government will help unlock a challenging brownfield site and turn it into high-quality homes supporting the town’s future and strengthening the local economy. We are committed to enabling young people to stay and live in this area and providing housing is fundamental to achieving this goal.”
Mike Staples, South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH), said: “We are proud to continue supporting GDI as the project moves into delivery. These homes will make a real difference to people in Gatehouse, providing affordable, energy-efficient housing that meets local needs.”
Next Steps
With funding secured, GDI will now undertake pre contract surveys and move through the contractor tender process to progress site remediation, with the aim of starting on site as soon as all capital funding is in place.
Demand for the homes remains strong, reflecting the clear and ongoing need for affordable housing in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Anyone with a strong connection to Gatehouse who is in need of an affordable rented home can register their interest by contacting South of Scotland Community Housing at laura.dalgetty@sosch.org or by calling 07955 732621.