Construction reaches halfway point on new Dumfries & Galloway indoor tennis centre

Work began in February with the three-court centre set to be open to clubs, schools and players of all ages in a matter of months. An opening date is still to be confirmed but it will be towards the end of the year.

In a hugely positive step for sport in the area, Dumfries and Galloway will now have a base for tennis which will provide year-round access for the many nearby rural communities. It will be an inclusive, accessible and affordable facility providing more opportunities for people to play tennis. Local construction company Ashleigh is leading the build on the new facility.

There is already a strong tennis infrastructure in Dumfries and Galloway with 11 registered clubs and close to 1000 playing members, but playing time is greatly reduced in the winter with play on outdoor courts weather dependent. The new centre will provide opportunities to grow participation among all ages and abilities throughout the year.

Preparations for the centre opening are progressing beyond the construction work. Local coaches are going through their qualifications with Tennis Scotland, upskilling the tennis workforce in the area as well as providing coaches to deliver a range of sessions every week at the centre.

The project is another important landmark in the ongoing work to improve year-round access to tennis across the country. It will be the third indoor tennis centre built in Scotland recently. Centres in Edinburgh and Elgin have opened since the end of 2023, meaning the TSIT fund will have helped build 13 indoor courts in that time when the Dumfries centre opens its doors.

Nearly £1.7million of funding from the Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis fund, operated by the LTA, LTA Tennis Foundation, sportscotland and Tennis Scotland, will help make the plans a reality. That amount includes a £211,347 loan to Dumfries and Galloway Council. Alongside the loan, the council has provided nearly £500,000 with the total cost of the project set to be £2,361,937.

A challenging financial climate and increased costs in the construction industry caused a rise in the total cost of the facility from original projections. However, the organisations involved put in a concerted effort to find additional funding to ensure the project went ahead. Holywood Trust, a local charity which helps young people in the area, are making a significant contribution of £200,000.

TSIT is designed to support innovative and creative projects to meet local demand and fill the geographical gaps in indoor tennis provision that currently exist across Scotland. At £15 million, TSIT is the largest capital investment programme in the sport’s history in Scotland and the aim is to create more and better opportunities to play tennis all year round.

The four-court £1.63m centre in Elgin, operated by Moray Sports Centre, and the £4.5m six-court Oriam Indoor Tennis Centre in Edinburgh are both seeing high numbers of players since opening.

Scott Lloyd, CEO of the LTA said: “I’m delighted we have reached a significant milestone in the construction of the new centre. This outstanding facility will serve as a vibrant hub for the Dumfries and Galloway community, providing a welcoming space for players of all levels throughout the year.

“This project embodies LTA’s vision of ‘tennis opened up’—ensuring that tennis is truly a sport for everyone.

“I look forward to the official opening and continuing to collaborate closely with all our partners to deliver exciting opportunities for tennis in local areas across Scotland.’’

Blane Dodds, Chief Executive of Tennis Scotland, said: “This is a significant moment as we aim to continue making tennis accessible to everyone right across Scotland by providing year-round indoor facilities. The new indoor centre in Dumfries & Galloway is taking shape and we’re all looking forward to seeing players get on the courts soon.

“This will be the third new indoor centre delivered in less than two years, with a host of other facilities, including 160 revamped public courts, also opened or upgraded in that time – which has been a period of unprecedented growth for tennis in Scotland.

“Participation is up, we have a growing competitions calendar, and many Scottish players are performing well on the world stage. It’s a great time to be involved in Scottish tennis and we thank our partners for their continued support and investment.”

Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee Chair, Cllr Maureen Johnstone said: “I am delighted to see the progress of the new tennis centre and look forward to it being completed. It will be a major community asset for us and will provide much-needed indoor facilities for tennis players in the region and beyond.”

Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Education, Skills and Community Wellbeing Committee Vice Chair, Cllr Lynne Davis said: “This is an excellent example of partnership working and to see the project advancing well is very pleasing. Our council is committed to providing excellent, modern facilities and improving our leisure and culture offer and the new tennis centre will be a big part of this offer.”

Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “It’s exciting to see the progress being made on the tennis centre in Dumfries. When it’s opened the centre will be hugely significant for local tennis and the communities in Dumfries and Galloway.

“Coming soon after indoor tennis facilities in Edinburgh and Elgin have opened, the commitment of everyone involved in the TSIT fund to improving year-round access to tennis is clear.

“During what are very challenging times financially, I must commend the commitment of our partners to delivering this project and I look forward to seeing the impact it will have.”