Dunbar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme
(Image above: the location of Black Bull Close on a 1907 map of Dunbar, image from Historic Environment Scotland/National Library of Scotland).
The Dunbar Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) was launched in January 2023.
The project has been developed by East Lothian Council and the local community and is funded by Historic Environment Scotland (HES).
Dunbar CARS will focus on a range of heritage and conservation based regeneration activities within the town centre until 2027. The scheme will offer grant aid towards appropriate repair works to traditional buildings in private ownership as well as supporting complementary initiatives, such as traditional skills training community heritage projects, to increase awareness and understanding of the town’s rich heritage and the care and maintenance of its traditional buildings.
The scheme will also undertake a combination of larger, priority building repair projects to properties identified through consultation with the community as having a detrimental impact on the town centre. The current Priority building repair projects include the former Lothian Hotel at 50-54 High Street and the former Value Shop at 86-88 High Street.
The Dunbar scheme follows on from other successful projects in Haddington, Tranent and, most recently, Cockenzie.