Newton Stewart Initiative have been in conversation with the owner of the Grapes Hotel since he bought it in 2022. The Local Place Plan consultations that were held beginning in February 2023 allowed residents to share their views on what they wanted to see in Newton Stewart. Many residents called it an eyesore and wanted to see something done with it. After negotiating with the owner, he said he would be happy to sell it to NSI for community use. Since then we have successfully acquired funding from the Scottish Land Fund and Architectural Heritage Fund to conduct feasibility studies and surveys on the building. We have commissioned Collective Architecture to conduct these and are working closely with SOSCH as we plan to build affordable accommodation upstairs, which is also something the town needs. We are planning to move our community shop into the downstairs, as it has outgrown the building it is currently in. Stage one of the work is expected to take up to three months. Further funding applications will be put in to ensure completion of the build.https://www.dng24.co.uk/future-plans-revealed-for-rundown-ex-hotel/
