Carsebridge Cultural Campus

Gallery of Images

On the Buildings at Risk Register, Ochil House now forms the main activity hub on the site; a donations cafe; rooms for our weekly clubs, festivals and events; exhibition spaces; housing the Resonate Trades Training Centre and film studio being developed Phase 1

Across the ground, which we aim to build a workshop and accommodation pods is Harvey House, a grand building ready for a Carsebridge Whisky site history Museum Trail downstairs and community/rentable space upstairs in Phase 1

The buildings had been left for a decade, with vandalism and theft a major challenge. All metals, pipes, heating systems, everything stolen; 45 windows smashed. Funders have supported us with £50k of CCTV, Fire Alarm and Intruder Alarm Systems and we voluntarily staff then 24/7

After much repair achieved due to funding and fundraising support, including new heating systems for both building, new windows, floors, walls and all – Phase 1 of Emergency Repairs were finished – and now on to Phase 2!

One example of one rooms set up – we now have regular tenants, weekly rentals and many ad-hoc bookings for these spaces. All the furniture, tables, settees and chairs have all been donated by our community.

The Carsebridge Cultural Campus has a gentle, calm, peaceful and graceful feeling – it enables people to reconnect within themselves and helps us all in building our collective resilience, wellbeing and innovative opportunities, together.

Project Description

In the heart of Alloa, two unlisted 19th-century heritage buildings, Ochil House and Harvey House, stood crumbling — threatened by vandalism, neglect, and potential demolition. Their future seemed lost, until the community, led by Resonate Together, chose another path: to save, to regenerate, and to reimagine.
At the start, the site had no water, gas, or electricity. Grounds were so overgrown they hid forgotten treasures, including a small underground air raid shelter, now to become a future feature. Against the odds, Resonate Together mobilized, raising just under £300,000 from the Scottish Land Fund—the largest single award in Clackmannanshire’s history—to begin the rescue.
Instead of traditional consultation, Resonate Together launched a Festival of Ideas, gathering hundreds of local people whose families had worked across generations at the historic Carsebridge Distillery. The message was clear: repair the heritage, keep access free for all, and blend the past with the future.
Today, the Carsebridge Cultural Campus is alive. From clearing the grounds to launching the Resonate Training Centre (teaching trades from traditional plastering to film-making and AI), to leading Clackmannanshire’s COVID Memorial Project, to delivering the Creative Scotland Place Partnership Programme forging a cultural strategy for the county — every step has been community-driven, inclusive, and visionary.
The site is not just saving bricks and mortar—it is saving identity, pride, and opportunity. It welcomes all ages and abilities, supporting individual wellbeing, entrepreneurship, education, and collective resilience.
By weaving heritage preservation with contemporary creativity, Resonate Together is not just preserving the past — it is shaping a vibrant, sustainable future for Clackmannanshire.
This is community-led placemaking at its most determined, heartfelt, and inspiring.

Supporting Statement

Community Involvement, Benefit and Impact
From the beginning, community voices shaped the vision for Carsebridge Cultural Campus. Rather than a traditional consultation, Resonate Together held a Festival of Ideas, drawing hundreds of people to share their hopes for the historic site. The community's overwhelming response—to save the heritage, offer open access, and create contemporary opportunities—directly drove every decision. The campus now welcomes all ages and abilities, providing free and inclusive access, skill-building, and creative experiences. Through cultural festivals, training programmes, and heritage engagement, Carsebridge Cultural Campus has become a thriving, trusted space that fosters belonging and wellbeing.

Build Design and Quality
Ochil House and Harvey House, though unlisted, hold deep historical significance for Alloa’s community. Their sensitive conservation balances respect for 19th-century craftsmanship with practical contemporary use. Site planning integrates traditional skills training, cultural events, and AI/digital innovation, forging a uniquely blended future. Despite significant structural challenges—including the lack of water, gas, or electricity at the outset—the works to date preserve key architectural elements while creating functionality for future generations. Environmental consciousness has been embedded in future restoration plans, with sustainability and reuse at the core.

Preservation or Enhancement of the Local Built Environment
Carsebridge Cultural Campus stands as a beacon of local pride, saving important industrial heritage from dereliction. The project preserves the historical identity of the Carsebridge Distillery legacy while creating new pathways for community use. It enhances the cultural landscape of Alloa and Clackmannanshire, breathing life into previously at-risk buildings and connecting the site meaningfully into future community regeneration efforts.

Achievements of the Project
Against formidable obstacles—severe vandalism, lack of basic infrastructure, and financial constraints—Resonate Together secured the largest Scottish Land Fund award in Clackmannanshire’s history (£297k) and mobilised significant local and national support. The organisation has led not only the physical transformation of the campus but also the cultural and economic regeneration strategy for the county, securing a Place Partnership Programme award from Creative Scotland and influencing policy and practice at the highest local levels. Through determination, creativity, and community partnership, the Carsebridge Cultural Campus is becoming a living, sustainable asset for all.