Key Points
- More than £7 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to save at-risk heritage sites in Scottish town centres including Glasgow and Airdrie.
- Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street receives £2.3 million for a culture and heritage district, preserving McLellan Galleries and restoring Cameron memorial fountain.
- Airdrie allocated £1.4 million to restore historic library, Scotland’s smallest observatory, and fund shopfront improvements.
- Girvan and Tarbert also benefit from the investment to enhance heritage, accessibility and biodiversity.
Glasgow (Glasgow Express) February 17, 2026 – More than £7 million in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will revitalise heritage sites in Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street and Airdrie, protecting historic buildings and boosting town centres.
The investment targets at-risk sites across Scotland, with Glasgow and Airdrie among the key beneficiaries. Sauchiehall Street, one of Glasgow’s busiest areas, will develop a culture and heritage district. Airdrie’s project focuses on its historic library and unique observatory.
What projects will receive funding in Glasgow?
In Glasgow, £2.3 million will preserve the historic McLellan Galleries, which will host performances by The Scottish Ensemble, Glasgow Film and Articulate. The Victorian Cameron memorial fountain will undergo restoration, alongside plans for housing, green spaces and building improvements, according to reporting from Ireland Live.
These initiatives aim to safeguard cultural assets while enhancing public spaces in the city centre.
How will Airdrie benefit from the investment?
Airdrie in North Lanarkshire receives £1.4 million to restore and redevelop its library, home to Scotland’s smallest observatory and Europe’s only public observatory in a library. The funding also supports a shopfront improvement scheme.
According to Ireland Live, North Lanarkshire Council leader Jim Logue stated:
“Our Rediscovering Airdrie project is helping to regenerate the town by protecting and celebrating its history.”
Which other areas are included?
What specific sites in Girvan will be improved?
Girvan in South Ayrshire gains £2.5 million for projects including the Stair Park bandstand, Stumpy Jail steeple, former Dalrymple Street bank and McKechnie Institute. The National Lottery Heritage Fund noted improvements in accessibility, biodiversity, local heritage learning and skills.
Tarbert will also share in the funding to protect its heritage sites, as part of the broader effort to breathe new life into Scottish town centres.
What are the expected outcomes?
The projects emphasise community engagement, with councils committing to long-term regeneration. In Airdrie, the library redevelopment will create resources for residents at the town’s heart.
Reporting by Glasgow Life highlights the restoration of Airdrie Library, Scotland’s first under the Public Libraries Act, as central to the transformation.
