£1m grant brings granary vision closer to reality

A massive £1 million grant has provided a major boost to the plans to restore and convert the Dewar’s Lane Granary in Berwick into an exciting cultural and exhibition venue.

The Granary’s application and business plan received the highest possible open application grant from the Government’s Sea Change programme.

It brings the total amount of funding pledged towards the transformation of the derelict 239-year-old building to £4.2 million and means that the project needs around  £600,000 to allow construction to commence.  More talks will now be held with local backers to see if the final funding gap can be bridged.

Finance already committed to the project, which unlocked the door to Sea Change money, has come from One NorthEast via Northumberland Strategic Partnership, English Heritage, The Northern Rock Foundation, Berwick Borough Council, Northumberland County Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Youth Hostel Association and a host of donations from trusts and individuals.

Jamie Andrew, Chairman of the Berwick Preservation Trust, said:  “This is absolutely fantastic news which brings our vision ever closer to reality. The decision by the Government to award the highest possible grant is a clear sign that it believes in the project.  It was grain that helped to make Berwick prosperous and a new Dewar’s Lane Granary will bring economic benefits to the whole of Berwick.”

John Smithson, the Preservation Trust’s executive officer, added:  “We are taking nothing for granted but having now got so close we are even more determined to complete the financial jigsaw and restore a very important piece of Berwick’s heritage.  We have had fantastic support from the public authorities, from charities and from individuals both around Berwick and further afield and it's great to think that all this is about to be rewarded."

Under the new plans, the six floors of the Dewar’s Lane Granary will be converted into an arts and exhibition centre, a bistro with outside courtyard seating, meeting rooms and a 42 bed youth hostel.

The Grade II listed granary was built in 1769 and its distinctive 1.2 metre leaning walls were immortalised by artist LS Lowry in a 1936 painting.  Used to store grain, linseed and grass seeds until 1985, the granary has since stood unused and decaying and has been a long-standing building at risk.

It is one of the key strategic projects in the Berwick’s Future regeneration strategy – a blueprint for economic and social revival in the borough developed after extensive engagement with the local community.  The conversion of this historic building will be a catalyst for further regeneration in the town.  More information is available at www.berwicksfuture.co.uk

The partners driving Berwick’s Future are One NorthEast, Northumberland Strategic Partnership, Northumberland County Council, English Heritage, Berwick Community Trust, Berwick Local Strategic Partnership and Berwick Borough Council.

Cllr. Isabel Hunter, leader of Berwick Borough Council, said:  “We nave been working very closely with the Preservation Trust and other partners on this exciting project.  The new Granary will help transform the historic Quayside area here in Berwick, and be a great attraction for visitors to the town and to the north east region”.

Chris Little, Tourism Development Manager at One North East, said: “This is a welcome step forward for the granary project, which is such an exciting part of Berwick’s regeneration strategy to develop its offer to businesses, residents and visitors.”

The Sea Change programme is being funded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and administered by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).  It supports a range of cultural, heritage or public space projects including, but not limited to, theatres, museums, libraries, galleries, archives, outdoor performance spaces, landscapes or projects which promote new forms of cultural engagement.

Capital grants of £45 million are being made over three years.  These must be match funded to a minimum of 50% for awards up to £1,000,000, and a minimum of 100% over £2,000,000.