Regeneration of historic Glasgow Meat Market given £2.3m funding boost

A project to redevelop a historic former Meat Market in Glasgow has been given a major funding boost.

The project, which aims to create a hub for community, sport and local business, has been awarded £2.3 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Social enterprise company Meat Market Regeneration CIC is behind the redevelopment of the site between the city centre and Dennistoun.

The Fund’s support will back both the physical regeneration of the B-listed Victorian sheds and a wide-ranging Heritage Activity Programme.

Patrick Flynn, chair of Meat Market Regeneration CIC, said: “The Meat Market remains an important site in Glasgow’s collective memory. Many of us have past family connections to the variety of businesses that were active there.

“This very welcome Heritage Fund investment, thanks to National Lottery players, will secure both community and built heritage in the redevelopment of the site as we bring it back to life and realise its potential as an asset for the east end and the whole of Glasgow.”

Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund director for Scotland added: “This is a community-led project with a focus on delivering significant local benefits while also creating new opportunities on a key site.

“We supported the development phase with £170,000 and the applicant has used that to work with the wider community and bring forward a plan that will protect and return to use the most important built heritage on the site and the more intangible heritage of the people whose work, life and community were so closely connected with the Meat Market.

The project has been described as “vital” for the community by returning the historic site back into use.

Throught the funding, the Victorian B-Listed structures will be restored and developed into a multi-use covered site including sports facilities, bar and bistro, learning centre and co-working spaces.

Work will also be carried out the restore the listed structures, demolish of some of the unlisted structures, and create a new build element within the historic structures and landscaping works.

Heritage engagement activities include collecting citizen’s heritage and establishing a Citizen Heritage Archive, creative commissions, heritage exhibitions, themed events and a learning programme, heritage skills events and participation in Doors Open Day.