John O'Groats mill project gets a further £300k from community fund
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Work to transform the historic mill at John O'Groats has been bolstered with a further injection of cash from the UK government.
It is one of nine community projects across Scotland to receive a share of more than £2 million from its Community Ownership Fund.
John O’Groats Mill Trust is leading an ambitious project to bring the category "B" listed mill back into use as a heritage visitor attraction and community venue, with work expected to begin by the end of this year.
The latest injection of £300,000 adds to a £1.6 million award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund in March this year, and a further £1.5 million in January from the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.
The Community Ownership Fund aims to help community groups take ownership of local institutions that have fallen into disrepair or are under threat of closure and give them a new lease of life, ensuring they continue to provide vital services, create opportunities and boost local economies.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announced the latest allocations from the second round of the £150 million fund on Friday.
Recent changes to the fund now mean that the amount of funding all projects can bid for has increased from £250,000 to £1 million.
UK government minister for levelling up Dehenna Davison said: “This cash will support great projects that will provide better opportunities for people across Scotland. We want people to thrive within their communities, and preserving their local institutions is a vital part of that.”
Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said: "It's great news that a further nine Scottish projects are sharing £2.03 million from the UK government Community Ownership Fund.
"Through the fund we are now supporting 24 community groups across Scotland to breathe new life into the places where they live, work and play to the tune of £5.2 million.
“In total we are directly investing more than £2.4 billion in hundreds of projects across Scotland as we help grow our economy and level up the country."
Speaking earlier this year, John O’Groats Mill Trust chairman Rognvald Brown said the project would bring meaningful change to the remote and rural community by creating a gathering place for people.
He added: “Our mill is particularly special as all the machinery is intact and in working order, our project includes any necessary repairs so we can keep it that way, and this important piece of rural industrial heritage will once more support the local economy and can become accessible to all."
The mill was in operation until around 2001 when Magnus Houston last worked it. In 2020 the mill keys were presented to the trust by Sina Houston, ending the Houston family connection going back some 270 years through six generations.
Since then the trust has been working with a design team of architects and engineers to develop its plans. These will see the existing building repaired and refurbished, while a new extension to the rear will provide a reception and community space.
Among the other Scottish projects to receive an award from the Community Ownership Fund is the Old Clyne School in Brora, which also received £300,000 to help redevelop the derelict building to create a visitor attraction and community museum/heritage centre.
