Dearle & Henderson Win RICS Scotland Regeneration Award 2009

Miners’ Institute Wins Prestige Award for the Agency and is Nominated for RICS Scotland “Project of the Year” Award

Dearle & Henderson are delighted to be selected as the winners of the RICS Regeneration award 2009 for restoring The Lochgelly Miners’ Institute building back to its former glory! Having played a key role in the local regeneration of Lochgelly over the last few years, Fife Council, Fife HARCA and Dearle & Henderson developed a brief for the derelict1923 B listed building, formerly known as the Miners’ Institute.  This building had once been the epi-centre of the community’s social life and it was crucial to restore it to its former glory. The building had to have a use that not only brought the building to life again, but also provided a service to the local people thus creating full regneration cycle.

David Fisher, Managing Director, Dearle & Henderson commented on the challenge faced at the post brief stage,  “The real key to success in this project was funding. To make it happen, and the only way to do this was with the involvement of the Historic Buildings Preservation Trust as they had access to enhanced grant levels. They managed a cocktail of different funding sources, ranging from Europe through to Historic Scotland and Coalfields, which allowed us to maximize this regeneration opportunity.”

After much research into possible uses for the building, a gap in adult education was highlighted, resulting in the “Adam Smith College” and “Fife Women’s Technology Centre” quickly embracing this chance to provide trade and computer related courses to give a kick-start to training and re-training in Lochgelly and its surrounding areas. Being B listed, the building required the involvement of Historic Scotland, therefore Dearle & Henderson and conservation architect Stephen Newsom worked together to develop a solution which saw a full restoration, alteration and renewal. The approach was two pronged in that while the outside of the building was limited to the restoration of the roof and facades, the internal structure had suffered greatly from decades of decay with much of the structure needing replaced.

Following its opening in March 2008, the community has expressed great satisfaction in the project. An added vignette is the new stained glass design to one of the round windows based on the winning design of a local schoolboy.  Speaking of the win, RICS Scotland Director Graeme Hartley said, “This project has been recognised for the excellent facilities it now provides and the way in which it has sensitively and creatively been brought back in to use.  My warmest congratulations go to all involved in the Miner's Institute for achieving this recognition.”