Midsteeple Quarter Community Benefit Society currently owns six buildings / sites
109 High Street
Bought along with 111 High Street with the support of a Crowdfunding campaign in March 2021. A prime unit on the corner of High Street and Bank Street. Currently one of our “meanwhile” use spaces for pop-up shops and events. Also available for longer-term lease.
51 Bank Street
Sitting above 109 High Street, this is an address with a rich part in Dumfries’ history as the former home of celebrated architect and civil engineer Walter Newall. We are currently developing plans to bring this space back to life as new homes. The building is currently being used by our Phase One construction contractors as their site office.
111 High Street
Midsteeple Quarter has brought this building back to life as a hub of creativity and enterprise. Following essential refurbishment work, it has been home to local enterprises Flourish and Lolliography since late 2021. Was bought alongside 109 High Street with the support of a Crowdfunding campaign in March 2021.
113-115 High Street (The Smithy)
Purchased in September 2020 - thanks to support from South of Scotland Economic Partnership (now South of Scotland Enterprise) - we renamed this building “The Smithy” in honour of its historic site as a High Street blacksmith’s. Now in “meanwhile” exhibitions, community engagement events and pop-up shops, The Smithy is a versatile and popular space. Our eventual vision for this building is for enterprise space on the ground floor, with homes above.
117 High Street (The Press)
Also bought as part of the package of funding secured in September 2020, we renamed this building The Press. Historically it was the home of the renowned Dinwiddie’s Printers. The High Street also used to be home to the printing presses of the Dumfries & Galloway Standard and Dumfries Courier newspapers. Although it has a shop front, the building retains its impressive former printing sheds to the rear. Also in meanwhile use with the eventual aim of being redeveloped into homes and enterprise space, it is a great venue for markets, gigs and other events.
135-139 High Street (Phase One)
The first building / site secured by Midsteeple Quarter Community Benefit Society, via a £1 asset transfer from Dumfries and Galloway Council in November 2018. Until April 2020, it was in meanwhile use as a venue for creative and community activities. It is now being transformed as part of our first major phase of redevelopment. New homes and enterprise spaces are due to open there in spring 2024.
What’s ‘meanwhile’ use?
Meanwhile use is the temporary use of the buildings while they await much needed investment and long term re-development. Putting the buildings into community ownership means they will no longer be abandoned or neglected. As our plans develop, we are able to offer our spaces at an affordable subsidised rate to encourage new enterprise. We want to keep the buildings as occupied as possible and we are interested in speaking to anyone curious about whether they could make use of one of our spaces. Any money made is reinvested back into the project. For more information, email info@midsteeplequarter.org.
A feasibility study examined the potential for the redevelopment and repurposing of the plots at 113-115 and 117-119 High Street, Dumfries.
They cover a block within Midsteeple Quarter. Redevelopment of the plots is identified as Phase 3 of the Midsteeple Quarter project.
The Midsteeple Quarter Blueprint applies the Place Principle to the town Centre of Dumfries. The key stakeholders include Dumfries and Galloway Council, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Government, Scottish Futures Trust and South of Scotland Community Housing.
The Blueprint sets out proposals to reposition the Midsteeple Quarter site as a vibrant and sustainable town centre neighbourhood, supporting a more successful Dumfries High Street.
