Harbour Centre

The former Harbourmaster’s Office is a prominent landmark at the entrance to Stranraer’s harbour, a stylish building of the 1930s one of the few Art Deco buildings in the region. It had lain empty for several years and was deteriorating rapidly.

With funding from both the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grants Fund and Historic Environment Scotland’s Conservation and Regeneration Scheme, Smith Scott Mullan Associates added an extension and implemented a full programme of conservation works to the existing building, including repair of its unusual pre-cast masonry and like-for-like replacement of the characteristic Crittall windows. The extension, despite its size, is subservient to the original building.

It provides a flexible space with views of the harbour and town and opens on to a new public square which enhances the setting of the Listed building. The extended building now provides a welcoming gateway to the marina and harbour for use by community groups to promote activities centred on the sea.