PLANS for a new national heritage conservation centre have been given a huge boost with backing for a £3.5 million bid from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The National Conservation Centre in Stirling will promote the care and conservation of traditional buildings. It will raise awareness of the importance of using such skills and will help teach them to young people through new qualifications.
There will also be £3m from the Scottish Government and possibly £1.9m from the European Regional Development Fund.
Work will now begin to ensure the new centre meets the needs of the sector.
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "Conserving our heritage for future generations and developing the skills in our young people to do so is a key focus for Scotland. This initial approval from the Heritage Lottery Fund is a huge boost for this important project.
"Scotland has long championed the value of nurturing traditional skills and technical expertise so I am delighted that the HLF is backing our plan to help establish a world-leading centre for conservation."
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: "Today's announcement is good news for Stirling and further highlights the excellent work undertaken by Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland."
Colin McLean, head of the fund in Scotland, said: "The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to give its initial support to this visionary project which will transform the skills available to ensure the future of Scotland's traditional buildings. The national conservation centre will become a centre of excellence for the hundreds of thousands of historic buildings which form part of our everyday lives as shops, banks and homes."
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