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HomeMachrihanish Airbase Community Company

Machrihanish Airbase Community Company

Facts & Figures

Organisation Name

Machrihanish Airbase Community Company

People Benefiting

The Kintyre community

Area Served

The Kintyre Peninsula

Population

Approx 6,000

Sketch

Established in March 2008, MACC was formed by a group of people who shared the same passion and determination to see the airbase facilities used for the benefit of the Kintyre community. Coming from all walks of life, the group included the site’s former Works Service Manager, local business people and other members of the community.
Embarking on one of the largest and most complicated community buyouts ever seen in Scotland, board members worked tirelessly to gain the support they needed. Four years down the line, MACC finally purchased the estate on May 11, 2012 from the Ministry of Defence for £1.

Legal Form

Registered Scottish charity and company

Volunteers

16

Earned Income

£44,512 (2017-18)

Assets

79 MACC Business Park, Machrihanish

Value of assets

£1,118,606 (2017-18)

Roots & Links

Origins

Established in March 2008, MACC was formed by a group of people who shared the same passion and determination to see the airbase facilities used for the benefit of the Kintyre community. Coming from all walks of life, the group included the site’s former Works Service Manager, local business people and other members of the community.
Embarking on one of the largest and most complicated community buyouts ever seen in Scotland, board members worked tirelessly to gain the support they needed. Four years down the line, MACC finally purchased the estate on May 11, 2012 from the Ministry of Defence for £1.
With the support of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Government and Argyll & Bute Council, it has focussed on upgrading on-site infrastructure in recent years in order to better position the site to attract investment from new and diverse industries. MACC even provided a new public water supply for 137 residential properties – alongside many commercial properties – at the Sound of Kintyre. Access roads have also been improved along with the sewage infrastructure and the high voltage electricity grid has been upgraded.
MACC has been involved in a number of initiatives to engage with and support the Kintyre community, both pre and post-buyout. It works with many local groups, charities and other organisations, and offers its assets to facilitate training and local events to make sure the the whole community benefits.

MACC is a group that purchased the former RAF Machrihanish on the Kintyre peninsula for £1 from the Ministry of Defence. Often described as “a business park with its own airport”, MACC shares its airbase assets of more than 220 buildings across 1,025 acres with local groups, charities and other organisations to facilitate a vast array of commercial developments, TV, film, training and other events.

With more than 80 tenants consisting of a diverse set of private individuals and businesses, MACC has turned the former airbase site into something that resembles a small town. It now plays host to a wind turbine factory, gym, diner, joiners, builders, local authority departments, an indoor shooting range, accommodation blocks and many more.

MACC’s site has even been shortlisted as one of eight potential locations for a UK Spaceport.

Since taking ownership of the airbase, MACC has upgraded on-site infrastructure, provided a new public water supply for residential and  commercial properties, improved access roads and sewage infrastructure, and upgraded the high voltage electricity grid. It has also installed a solar farm with hopes of moving to 100% renewable energy.

By working with local groups, businesses and entrepreneurs in exploring new ventures, events and innovative uses for the site, MACC is attracting inward investment from a diverse set of industries and creating more work and economic opportunities for future generations.

Governance

Board of 10 Directors and one Secretary

Community Links

Farmers, South Kintyre Sports Council, Campbeltown Christmas Lights Committee, Campbeltown Picture House, Glenside Tractors, Kintyre Kidney Dialysis Campaign, Campbeltown Sailing Club, Dunaverty Village Hall, Campbeltown Running Club, Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group, Kintyre Youth Cafe, South Kintyre Young Carers Group, Shopper Aide and Campbeltown Highland Games

External Links

Scottish Government, Explore Campbeltown, The European Agricultural Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Argyll and the Islands, Scottish Community Foundations, and Dunfermline Car Club

Activities

Physical Hub

79 MACC Business Park, Machrihanish

Builds Local Capacity

Supports local groups and charities by offering land and buildings use for storage, training and events

Provides a space for a plethora of different events for local businesses and other organisations

Improves surrounding infrastructure

Creates local job and economic opportunities

Delivers Services

Provides a space (and storage) for businesses, charities and other organisations.

Provides a public water supply for residential and commercial properties.

Creates job opportunities and long term benefits for future generations.

Provides a space for a diverse set of events, including:

  • The Mach 1 Stages in partnership with Dunfermline Car Club  – a leg of the Scottish Tarmac Rally Championship which attracted hundreds of competitors and spectators to Campbeltown.
  • Kintyre Agricultural Society first Winter Show in 2013.
  • Sound of Kintyre Homeowners’ Association’s regular meetings and AGMs.
  • The inaugural MACC Challenge, a 4-mile, extreme military obstacle event, in partnership with Campbeltown Running Club.
  • Kintyre Model Aero Club’s fun flying weekends, giving model flyers the chance to meet and access facilities that cannot be offered elsewhere.
  • Kintyre Motocross Club (who have their custom-built track located on-site)
  • Campbeltown Young Farmers (held trailer training and tractor competitions on-site

 

Provides a charitable donation to a chosen local charity on an annual basis. These have included:

  • £15,000 to the Kintyre Kidney Dialysis Campaign

  • £1,000 to Campbeltown Sailing Club

  • £2,000 to Dunaverty Village Hall

  • £2,000 to Campbeltown Picture House

  • £840 to Campbeltown Running Club

  • £1,500 to Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group

  • £1,000 to Kintyre Youth Cafe and South Kintyre Young Carers Group

  • £200 to Shopper Aide

  • £140 to Campbeltown Highland Games

MACC has also provided vital storage space to Campbeltown Christmas Lights Group and Campbeltown Picture House. In addition, the Base has been utilised for various events including the gruelling MACC Challenge and the ever popular MACH 1 Rally.

 

Develops/Manages Services

79 MACC Business Park, Machrihanish

Main Achievements

 

  • Purchased the former RAF Machrihanish to provide a space for both community and commercial events.
  • Installed a solar farm.
  • Shortlisted as one of eight potential locations for a UK Spaceport.
  • Upgraded on-site infrastructure and high voltage electricity grid.
  • Provided new public water supply for residential and commercial properties.
  • Improved access roads and sewage infrastructure.
  • Attracted inward investment from multiple industries.
  • Created more job opportunities for future generations.

What Next

Biggest Challenge

 

Attracting people and businesses from outside the area as well as maintaining and improving the asset for future generations.

Lesson Learned

Be ambitious, listen to lots of advice, don’t take no for an answer.

Aspirations

Hopes to move to 100% renewable energy.

Contact

Name

Malcolm McMillan

Title

Business Development Manager

Address Line 1

79 MACC Business Park, Machrihanish

Address Line 2

Argyll, PA28 6NU

District

Angus Argyll and Bute

Email

marycturner@btinternet.com