Councillors at a Full Council meeting on Thursday 11 December will be asked to approve a cost of £50,000 to commission a detailed vision and site appraisal – a study to explore potential future uses for the site.

This move aims to explore options for the vacant factory, which has become a notorious eyesore after many years of disuse.

The Former Interfloor Factory, a Category B-listed early-20th-century industrial building, has stood empty for over a decade. It occupies a prominent position on the A701 approach into Dumfries, where its appearance has for years created a poor first impression of the town.

Local residents and representatives have voiced concern about the site’s state and have urged action to address safety issues.

In response, the council has been working with community partners and national agencies to seek a path forward.

Although the council does not own the site, it has engaged with interested parties (including Historic Environment Scotland and potential developers). 

The building is currently ownerless, and the King’s and Lords Treasurer’s Remembrancer are the Crown’s representative in Scotland with authority to deal with ownerless property. They run the Ownerless Property Transfer Scheme, which is a potential route to enable redevelopment.

These efforts have focused on finding a viable solution that respects the location’s heritage while tackling the longstanding dereliction.

At the Full Council meeting, members will decide whether to formally continue the council’s role as a facilitator of the site’s regeneration and whether to fund the proposed £50,000 site appraisal.

If approved, the appraisal will provide a clearer picture of what could be possible at the Heathhall site – from restoration to potential redevelopment – and help attract interest from investors or development partners.

Crucially, this is a move to assess options, not a guarantee of immediate redevelopment. Any major project emerging for the Former Interfloor Factory site will require further planning, funding and partnership work over time.

Councillor Katie Hagmann, convener of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: “We know how important it is to the Heathhall community and the wider Dumfries area that something is finally done about the Former Interfloor Factory site. It has been lying derelict for far too long and, although it isn’t a council-owned property, we can’t just stand by and let this historic building continue to decay.

“By providing leadership and funding an initial appraisal, we would be facilitating efforts to transform the site – working with development experts, local people and potential investors to explore what might be possible.

“This is about the council doing everything possible to encourage regeneration and find a positive future for this derelict site.

“Of course, it’s early days – the study will guide us on the viable options, and any redevelopment will take time and the right partnerships. However, this is a crucial first positive step in turning a long-neglected eyesore into a potential asset for our community.”