The Calyx is shortlisted by the Big Lottery Fund
The Calyx project has received excellent news from the Big Lottery Living Landmarks programme with confirmation that the project has been short listed through to the final stage of the UK wide competition.
£25 million worth of lottery funding is at stake for the Calyx with the stage two application process to take place from now until September 2007 when the final result will be known.
Procuring the lottery funds will allow the Calyx to be entirely confident in securing the total funding for the unique 61 acre Perth based garden project. Significant funding has already been confirmed by The Gannochy Trust who will donate £3 million when the Calyx receives lottery funding. Other stakeholders are identified to complete the total £36 million funding for the project, but the outcome of the Lottery bid has always been crucial.
The Calyx project, is set to transform Perthshire and Scotland providing a major garden based attraction which links directly to national and regional policies with community, educational and environmental benefits. Over 200 jobs will be created with the project’s economic impact estimated at £21 million annually across Scotland.
Peter Fairlie, Chief Executive of the multi-million pound project, said: “We are delighted to receive this exciting news and we can now focus on the final stage of the lottery bid.
Mr Fairlie added, “Although short listing is a highly significant milestone, much more work requires to be completed by 31st May 2007, when the stage two application requires to be submitted. The £250,000 of development funds, awarded to us today, is the maximum award allowed. This will allow us to complete aspects of the work required for the stage two application.”
Chairman of Scotland's Garden Trust, Dr Andrew Cubie, said “This is not only exciting news for Perthshire but also for Scotland and the UK as the Calyx is a community project, rooted in Perth, but with a much wider reach. We are now a major step closer to bringing the Calyx Project into being. Importantly, the benefits are recognised by a cross section of organisations and individuals, all of whom are highly supportive. The Calyx with its horticultural base will make a difference across education, health and environmental issues for Scotland, and will provide high social and economic benefits. It is a project long awaited. We look forward to this next stage to develop and fine tune the detail with as many as we can involve, and dependent on to the final lottery award in September 2007 construction would commence in 2008 with a planned opening in 2010.
For further information on the Calyx contact 01738 472800 or visit www.thecalyx.co.uk
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