SURF Awards Winner:
Housing and Regeneration

What is the aim of the project?

To deliver strategic town centre regeneration via community asset ownership.

Where is it taking place?

The Midsteeple Quarter is located within Dumfries High Street.

What has been achieved?

The Standard is the first phase of the Midsteeple Quarter Masterplan in Dumfries, a landmark community led initiative that aims to regenerate the town centre via community ownership. The upper floors of The Standard, which was completed in November 2024, are comprised of seven apartments for mid-market rent, including one dedicated as a work/living space for creative professionals. The lower floors contain a mix of enterprise, community, meeting, event, and office space. Four previously empty shops have already been brought back into ‘meanwhile’ use.

The mixed-use development has kick-started the regeneration of the town centre, delivered in collaboration with a range of partners. The project is a complex hybrid of partial redevelopment and new-build, providing low-energy, sustainable, multi-purpose space. The property, a former bakery and shop, was the subject of a Community Asset Transfer from Dumfries and Galloway Council.

The housing element is a unique urban community led housing project. The mid market homes targeted key workers via a localised allocations policy that responded to a need profile evidenced over a number of years. The
apartments have been designed to maximise benefit from their aspect and elevated position, offering views across the Nith Estuary.

Significant engagement identified an overall lack of residents within
the town centre; the project is a response, bringing footfall, renewed vibrancy, and economic activity aligned to town centre living.

The enterprise space on the building’s first floor is supporting and encouraging tech business start-ups and social enterprises from a co
working hub. Four previously empty shops have already been brought back into ‘meanwhile’ use, offering local independent traders and enterprises
affordable retail spaces in a prime high street location.

The completion of Phase One brings a range of wider benefits to Dumfries and the wider community. The creation of a new Town Centre Living model in Dumfries is already catalysing other providers to plan housing delivery. Its successful completion has created a landmark innovative build, changing the tone of what is possible in Dumfries and raising the standard for new development.

Who is running it?

Led by Midsteeple Quarter (Dumfries High Street Limited), a Community Benefit Society with in excess of 500 members, with the housing developed in partnership with South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH).

Why did the judging panel like it?

The Standard heralds the next step in the renaissance of Dumfries town centre and is already the catalyst for other regeneration activity in and around the Midsteeple Quarter. The judges were extremely impressed by the integration of new dwellings within, and behind, the rejuvenated listed building on Dumfries’ High Street. The carefully composed design skilfully reinforces the historic townscape, combining new buildings with restored heritage assets to deliver the initial phase of an ambitious mixed-use masterplan.

The judging panel acknowledged the extensive partnership working,
enduring place leadership, and creative engagement of local residents, businesses and stakeholders required to establish and sustain a Community Benefit Society to deliver the project, which also supports local businesses, enables social enterprise and hosts community events.

The Standard building sets a very high standard for town centre regeneration.