An exciting waterfront regeneration project on Harbour Road, Eyemouth is set to take a significant step forward as Eyemouth Harbour Trust have appointed a design team to take the project to the next stage of design and development. This move follows an award earlier this year of a substantial funding package secured through The Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) (£545,000) and Scottish Borders Council’s Eyemouth Regeneration Fund (£300,000) to Eyemouth Harbour Trust for the redevelopment of the former disused and dilapidated old fish market and former World of Boats Maritime Museum, which closed in 2016.
The existing building was erected in the 1960s, as a fish market in use until the late 1990s when Gunsgreen Basin and the new harbour was created to accommodate the growth in the fishing industry. Since 2005, until recently it was used as home to the World of Boats museum.
Consultations held with the community in 2018/19 showed universal support for removal of the old ‘shipwreck’ that the building had become in recent years, and an appetite for creation of a flexible, all-year round, multi-use building for events, markets, training courses and the like as well as a collection of smaller individual units which could offer affordable business start-up ‘pods’ whilst opening up the harbour views from Manse Road.
Following a recent tender process through Public Contracts Scotland, there were 100 expressions of interest with 20 valid tender submissions from nation-wide architect agencies, and a lengthy and rigorous selection process, Eyemouth Harbour Trust have appointed Galmstrup Architects with James F. Stephen Architect to lead the design team for the project.
Galmstrup, who specialise in cultural and community projects, will be supported by a team consisting of multi-award-winning James F Stephen Architects, engineering experts ARUP (Structural, Civils and M&E) and Quantity Surveyors, CBA.
Galmstrup Architects have recently worked on a number of key projects for the National Trust for Scotland including the new visitor centre at the UNESCO World Heritage site of St Kilda, Canna & Sanday and Fair Isle. James F. Stephen Architects have also recently completed the visitor facility on the Isle of May, for National Nature Reserve.
Commenting on their appointment, Anne Marie Galmstrup said: “The Old Fishmarket project is much more than brick and mortar. Locating a new public anchor at the heart of the town’s history is an opportunity to reinvent the wider harbour area, open Eyemouth towards the harbour and create a new urban living room. We are honoured to have this opportunity to work within the strong historic setting and living harbour of Eyemouth. We have a great team with different “superpowers” and look forward to our journey ahead with the Harbour Trust.”
Christine Bell, Business Manager at Eyemouth Harbour Trust, said: “Securing the funding from Scottish Government RCGF and SBC’s Eyemouth Regeneration Fund has enabled us to take significant steps forward with the redevelopment of this historic section of the quayside in the heart of the town. Project work started earlier this year but was stalled due to the Covid-19 lockdown. However, we are up and running again, with site investigation work just completed by Holequest. We are delighted to have the design team in place, they will certainly bring the project back to life. The entire team, led by Anne-Marie, have a wide range of expertise, knowledge and so much enthusiasm for this project, it’s contagious!”
Councillor Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Economic Regeneration and Finance, said: “This is just one of a number of locally-led projects in Eyemouth that the Council has supported with funding and I am delighted to see it continuing to progress well.
“The regeneration of this important area of Eyemouth will provide a huge boost to the community and the local economy, creating jobs, opening up even more tourism opportunities and supporting new and growing local businesses.”
