25/10/2026
🏘️ SIX EMPTY BUILDINGS BROUGHT BACK INTO USE – AN INSPIRING STORY FROM AYR
Congratulations to narture cic, winners of the Innovation in Place award at the Scotland Loves Local Awards 2026.
Founded in 2020 by father and daughter Robert and Saskia Singer, this Ayr-based social enterprise has achieved something remarkable.
✅ Brought six vacant and underused town centre buildings back into use.
✅ Created 16 permanent jobs.
✅ Established an award-winning artisan bakery and café, alongside artist studios, galleries and community activities.
✅ Developed plans to transform Ayr's historic Auld Toy Shop, empty for 15 years, into a new creative and community hub.
What can Kirkcaldy learn from this?
One of the priorities of Kirkcaldy Property Network is to encourage investment in vacant town centre properties and help bring them back into productive use.
We have some wonderful historic buildings in Kirkcaldy, but too many remain empty or underused.
The Narture story demonstrates what can be achieved through creativity, determination and a willingness to invest in buildings that others might overlook.
Not every vacant building needs to become another shop. There are opportunities for creative businesses, community organisations, workspaces and other uses that can help bring life back to our town centre.
Through our work with The Vacant Shops Academy and local partners, we hope to encourage more practical projects like this in Kirkcaldy.
We already have the buildings, the people and the potential. The challenge is turning that potential into action.
👏 Well done to everyone involved with Narture CIC. A fantastic example of town centre regeneration in action.
Source: Scotland's Towns Partnership – Scotland Loves Local Awards 2026.
