Lockerbie Old School, Lockerbie

Erected in 1875, the former Dryfesdale Public Old School building has been at the heart of the Lockerbie community for over 140 years.  In 1903 the building became home to Lockerbie Academy until the 1960s when the Academy moved to more modern premises.  The building then served as the local Primary School.

As part of the process of disposing of the building, it was necessary to determine whether there was any local community interest in obtaining it.  

It became apparent that, due to the scale of the building, the entirety would not be required for community uses.  This is where Cunninghame and the Adult Health and Social Care Partnership became involved.  Turning Point Scotland currently supports adults with complex needs within the Lockerbie area and this building can provide 8, bespoke, supported living flats with Scottish Secure Tenancies.

The 8 single bedroom flats have all been designed to suit wheelchair users and hoist installations with the incoming and future tenants in mind.

The site is within a couple of minutes’ walk of the High Street and the development of housing in this location will support local businesses in the town centre by increasing footfall.  It will also provide the new residents with direct access to the benefits of the community building.

The development will also support local construction jobs during the construction period and thereafter for maintenance.

Aside from the benefits in embodied carbon from retaining the existing building the new homes will contain low carbon technology including photovoltaic panels on the roofs, gas savers in the boilers and increased insulation depths.