£5.5m to restore arts and crafts house

A MULTI-million-pound transformation of a historic Angus cultural hub has been revealed as the first full business case to win approval under the Tay Cities Deal.

The Tay Cities joint committee has confirmed Hospitalfield House in Arbroath as the inaugural project to receive £5.5 million funding from the Scottish Government, subject to the deal being signed and bringing with it £5.5m of complementary match funding.

The visionary redevelopment of the Angus facility aims to secure the future of a building currently described as being at considerable risk.

Hospitalfield Trust hopes to restore and enhance the residential, studio and visitor facilities there to create what it says will be a world-class cultural and tourism facility with a financially sustainable future. Angus Council’s leader has hailed the step as a fitting legacy to Patrick Allan-Fraser, the Arbroath-born painter and architect who endowed the historic trust.

Hospitalfield appointed architects Caruso St John to develop a campus plan around the original arts and crafts building and they have worked alongside landscape architect Nigel Dunnett.

Transport, infrastructure and connectivity secretary Michael Matheson said: “I am pleased the Scottish Government is able to support this exciting scheme which will guarantee the future of an iconic building, create a world-class facility and provide an economic asset.

“These are challenging times and the culture and tourism sector has an important role to play in our economic recovery.”

Angus Council leader and Arbroath councillor David Fairweather, a member of the Tay Cities Joint Committee, said: “Hospitalfield House is a place of huge significance in Angus and I am delighted to see its future assured, not only as an outstanding visitor attraction but as a centre of artistic excellence with an international reputation.”