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Funding blow puts Scotland-England landmark artwork in doubt

Giancarlo RinaldiSouth Scotland reporter
Star of Caledonia Trust An artists impression of a large steel winding sculpture with long spikes sticking out at at angles, showing people standing at the base. Landscaped gardens and a lochan can be seen the backgroundStar of Caledonia Trust
Plans for the artwork have been put on hold until next year in the face of a major funding shortfall

Plans for a landmark artwork at the Scotland-England border have been put on hold after a major funder withdrew support.

An emergency board meeting of the Star of Caledonia Trust (SCT) has agreed to pause the scheme near Gretna Green until spring next year while it looks to fill a funding gap of £8m.

It has now launched an urgent Save Our Star campaign in a bid to ensure the scheme - which hoped to attract 200,000 visitors a year - can go ahead.

Lucy Houston, who chairs the SCT, said: "This is a setback, but it is not the end of the Star."

The story of the multi-million pound project goes back a quarter of a century, with a bid to create a landmark like the Angel of the North in the wake of the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001.

Various planning and financial setbacks have hit the scheme down the years and the design - by Cecil Balmond - was reduced in height.

Opinion is split about the artwork, with some describing it as "original" but others saying it is "truly awful".

It was hoped it could be completed by next year but - without full funding in place - it now faces an uncertain future once again.

A woman with long, blonde, wavy hair in a blue patterned blouse stand in front of what looks like a blurred hotel bar area
Lucy Houston said the funding blow was "not the end" of the project

Houston appealed for people to come forward if they are keen to see it progress.

"The project has come so far, and the support from our partners and the community has been incredible," she said.

"This Christmas, we are hoping for a Star of Caledonia miracle.

"Whether it's one major donor or several supporters joining together, we would love to hear from anyone who shares our vision and could help us cross the finishing line."

She told the BBC it was "disappointing" news, but they remained closer than they had ever been to building the landmark.

"We've had the costings in and we've worked really hard to bring them to within budget," she said.

"But the economic climate has changed and significant private donation is no longer available to us.

"So the trust has decided to pause the project until spring 2027 whilst we look for new funding."

Star of Caledonia Trust A wider view of the Star of Caledonia design with a small loch beside it and a visitor hub made out of wood.Star of Caledonia Trust
It is hoped the site could attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year

Planning approval remains in place. with the last conditions in the process of being met.

She said the trust remained "optimistic" despite the latest setback, and said they remained in dialogue with the funder who had dropped out of the project.

Renewable energy company CWP Energy has previously been named as a major supporter of the plans.

The BBC has approached the firm to ask if it remains committed to the scheme.