GROUND has been broken on the build of a new multi-million pound tennis centre in Dumfries and Galloway.
Ashleigh (Scotland) is leading construction of the new facility at the King George V sports complex in Dumfries. The work is being delivered via the transforming Scottish indoor tennis (TSIT) fund, which is a joint initiative by Tennis Scotland, sportscotland, and the LTA.
Scheduled to open later in the year, the three-court centre will provide a base for tennis in the region and the many rural communities in the area – sportscotland said it will be an inclusive, accessible, and affordable facility.
Construction starting marks another important landmark in the ongoing work to improve year-round access to tennis across the country. The facility will be the third indoor tennis centre built in Scotland recently. Centres in Edinburgh and Elgin have opened since the end of 2023, meaning the TSIT fund will have helped build 13 indoor courts in that time when the Dumfries centre opens its doors.
Blane Dodds, Tennis Scotland chief executive; Mark Cowan, sportscotland head of facilities; Sophie Curthoys, LTA investment manager; councillor Maureen Johnstone; and councillor Lynne Davis visited the site today as the diggers moved in.
Nearly £1.7 million of funding from the TSIT fund will help make the plans a reality. That amount includes a £211,347 loan to Dumfries and Galloway Council. Alongside the loan, the local authority has provided nearly £500,000 with the total cost of the project set to be £2,361,937.
A challenging financial climate and increased costs in the construction industry caused a rise in the total cost of the facility from original projections, sportscotland said. However, the organisations involved put in a concerted effort to find additional funding to ensure the project went ahead. Holywood Trust, a local charity which helps young people in the area, is making a significant contribution of £200,000.
Dumfries and Galloway Council’s education, skills, and community wellbeing committee chair, councillor Maureen Johnstone, said, “I’m delighted to see this project moving forward. Our council has committed half a million pounds towards the costs and this clear commitment is a strong sign of the importance we place on this facility, and indeed of facilities of its nature. Having such an accessible facility in our largest town in the region will not only be excellent for local tennis players, but will attract people into the region, boosting the local economy.”
Chief executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, added, “Our aim with the TSIT fund was to improve year-round access to tennis in key areas across Scotland and this is a significant milestone in that journey. I look forward to seeing the impact it has for the local communities and for the sport.”
“These are exceptionally challenging times for everyone, and I must commend our partners for their continued commitment to delivering on our shared ambition to improve indoor tennis facilities across Scotland.
“This is not just about the bricks and mortar; it’s about creating an environment where people can enjoy the sport of tennis and progress to whatever level they aspire to.”
