At a meeting of Annandale and Eskdale area committee on Wednesday, councillors agreed to recommend that the building be transferred to the Eskdale Foundation, on the condition that the foundation can secure the required capital funding to turn it into houses.
And this recommendation will now go before the policy and resources committee in June, meaning work on the building could start in the autumn.
The Eskdale Foundation first showed an interest in the former police station back in 2014, and requested time to draw up an appropriate business plan.
They hope to redesign and refurbish the building to provide affordable rented housing.
At the meeting, area committee chairman Cllr Stephen Thompson sought reassurance that the building would not be left in limbo if the foundation are unable to meet the funding conditions.
He was told that continuous progress updates will be brought before the committee, and if the funding was not secured then the committee would have the opportunity to discuss this at a later date.
Chairman of the foundation’s police station project Ian Macgregor said: “The Eskdale Foundation are very grateful to members of Annandale and Eskdale Area Committee for their support in recommending that the community asset transfer be made.
“This is a significant milestone on the road to community ownership.
“We are also very grateful for the excellent, ongoing support that this project is receiving from various council officers and also from the staff of Dumfries and Galloway Small Communities Housing Trust.”
