THE restoration of two buildings at a former distillery in Alloa took a step forward as they host the chairs of the United Nations Association Scotland.

As previously reported, the United Nations Association (UNA) Alloa branch was formed at Ochil and Harvey houses at the former Carsebridge Distillery, where Resonate Together and landlords have been working together to revive the site.

UNA Scotland chairs will this month be hosted at the former distillery for their quarterly meeting, the association being a charity which builds support for the UN amongst policymakers, opinion-formers and the public.

Resonate has been working with AC Land Regeneration to transform the two buildings into a fully inclusive cultural hub, dubbed the Carsebridge Cultural Campus.

Plans are for the campus to feature a café, outdoor performance space, a wide range of creative activities, a pod hotel and an artist's residency studio apartment.

As part of the effort, AC Land Regeneration has gifted a year's free lease while Resonate campaigns to secure much-needed funds for a community buy-out.

Angela Watt, founder and CEO of Resonate Together, said: “The strong partnership that we and AC Land Regeneration are building is about potential – the potential to save this historic site; the potential to create an incredible cultural campus and the potential to create a positive thriving legacy for future generations – this is something very special.”

The buildings are part of a brownfield development site owned by AC Land Regeneration, part of the Advance Group of Companies, which is also being transformed to accommodate housing.

Lynsey Breen, head of land acquisitions at AC Land Regeneration, said, “The work Resonate Together undertake in the community is inspiring and to have the UNA chairs gather in these historic buildings is a terrific showcase for the charity and all it stands for.

“The buildings still require a lot of work but they are slowly coming back to life and deserve to be preserved.”

Founded in the late 1700s, Carsebridge produced whisky and was one of six distillers which came together to form the Distillers Company Limited in 1877, eventually closing its doors in 1983.

Resonate began an ambitious campaign to raise £300,000 for a community buy-out, anyone interested in supporting the fundraising bid, those who have worked at the site or just want to help out, can contact hello@ResonateTogether.org.uk or find Resonate Together on Facebook.