The Old Police Station

Situated on Buccleuch Square in the heart of a former woollen mill town, this handsome two-storey sandstone building served as a police station from 1900 to 2010. Internal accommodation included two tiled cells, complete with original oak doors. After the station’s closure, the building remained vacant despite active marketing for commercial development by the local authority. In 2017, a high level of concern over the amount of local vacant buildings led to an asset transfer of ownership from Dumfries and Galloway Council to Eskdale Foundation.

Eskdale Foundation had relevant experience of providing accommodation for older people and understood the local market need, which was also seeing a drift of young people away from the area. The Foundation partnered with South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH) to adapt the former station into a mix of four affordable homes, including one accessible ground-floor home. Use of conservation-accredited architects resulted in the retention of original features and careful integration of appropriate energy efficiency measures. The project was completed in summer 2021.

An AHF Project Viability Grant in 2018 contributed to the cost of a feasibility study. Following this, in 2019, a Project Development Grant funded design team fees to enable the project to secure planning permission and listed building consent. Total capital costs amounted to £530,000, with capital funders including the Rural Housing Fund, Dumfries & Galloway Town Centre Living Fund, and South of Scotland Enterprise.

The Old Police Station, Langholm - SOSCH

AHF Funding

Project Viability Grant - £4,928 (2018)

Project Development Grant - £12,500 (2019)

Image Credits

Tom Manley