Gretna 'Star of Caledonia' set to be smaller than initially planned under new proposals

A landmark art installation yards from the border with England will now be around 80% under new plans put forward more than 20 years after it was initially proposed.

The Star of Caledonia, set to be positioned near Gretna, was initially mooted in 2001 as a way of helping the area recover from the foot and mouth outbreak which devastated the region.

The design for the £7m structure, designed by Charles Jencks and Cecil Balmond, was agreed in 2011 and was meant to emulate the success of the Angel of the North near Gateshead in England.

However, over a decade on, the artwork is not yet built and new proposals will see it shrink by around 30ft before construction can begin.

The attraction is described as a “metaphor for the dynamism of the Scottish nation” and will “symbolise the energy and power of Scottish invention”.

It is hoped it will be visited by around 100,000 people every year and attract £4m to the local economy.

An additional £103,000 was committed to the project by South of Scotland Enterprise as part of a funding package last year.

Alasdair Houston, chairman of the Gretna Landmark Trust, said: “The Star of Caledonia is a project of international importance that will be invaluable in promoting regeneration and recovery in the wake of the pandemic by shining a light on Dumfries and Galloway.

“This SOSE funding is a tremendous boost that takes us another step forward in our quest to create a truly fitting landmark at the border between Scotland and England.”

He added: “The business case funding will be the key to unlocking £1.5 million which, in addition to the other generous funding pledges, would mean that work could begin on-site within months.”