Another lifeline for Govanhill Baths restoration bid

The latest windfall follows the community-run building passing the first phase for £1.2m of Heritage Lottery Fund support.

The money will bring Govanhill Baths Community Trust one step closer to reopening two pools and the Turkish suite, as well as further transforming the Steamie into a performance and arts space.

It’s one of five projects sharing a total pot of £1.7m in building repair grants - also including £345,000 for essential repairs to the former British Linen Bank in the Gorbals, which is due for major restoration.

Jane Ryder, HES chair, said that the grant recipients were “fine examples” of projects bringing important buildings into reuse.

She added: “The scheme isn’t just about repairing old buildings which have fallen into disrepair — the end use of each of these projects is something which will greatly benefit the communities living around it.”

Govanhill Baths was the battleground between community and Glasgow City Council in 2001 when the Edwardian building was closed, despite a local campaign and lengthy occupation — it later reopened as a community hub.