Dalmarnock Legacy Hub to be taken over four years after administration

A theatre and offices in a former Commonwealth Games building which partly closed when the charity in charge went into administration are set to be taken on by a new operator.

Weddings and parties could soon be hosted at the Dalmarnock Legacy Hub on Springfield Road if councillors give the green light to a deal with Rockvilla CIC on Thursday.

Opened in 2015 by football legend Kenny Dalglish and then council leader Frank McAveety after Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games, the £3.5m hub was initially managed by the People’s Development Trust.

When that organisation went into administration in 2019, Glasgow City Council bought the building for £1. A doctor’s surgery, dentist and pharmacists have continued to use the venue.

They would remain in place, with the new lease set to see Rockvilla, a community interest company, take on office, theatre and former nursery space for up to 25 years.

Council officials have reported Rockvilla intends to provide offices, community space and a licensed area. It would “apply for a licence for the premises to support the hire of the area for weddings, parties, functions etc”, and plans to “use this income to fund the community space above”.

Officials added the theatre area could be used for community activities, such as ‘A Play, a Pie and a Pint’ style events with local writers and performers and a free after school meals club “run in connection with Mary’s Meals”, a charity.

Offices would be let to local charities and community organisations “at concessionary rentals”.

Rockvilla’s lease of the theatre space is expected to be at £750 per year while the rent for the remainder of the space could be £25,000 per year for the first three years.

The report added the first 12 months will be rent free, with a base rent plus 5% of function turnover in year two and three. Rockvilla would have the option to break the lease at the end of years three, five and 15.

It is intended to set up an advisory board which would include the tenants, a local councillor and potentially other community members.

When the lease was initially proposed, Cllr Ruairi Kelly, SNP, the council’s convener for neighbourhood assets, said the “mismanagement and closure of the previous Dalmarnock hub was a huge loss to the local community”.

He added: “Stepping in to take over this asset allowed us to secure a building that has tremendous potential to benefit Dalmarnock and the surrounding areas, and working with community organisations means we can now look forward to its return to productive use.”

At that time, officials reported the lease to Rockvilla would “provide the opportunity to reinvigorate the hub and allow it to serve the community” while also alleviating the cost to the council, including non-domestic rates and utility charges.