A Dundee charity has had to withdraw its application to create a farm shop and restaurant near the Law.
Helm Training, which supports young people into work, had submitted plans with Dundee City Council to transform the Old Piggery on Law Crescent into an allotment.
Latterly, the site was used by the Hilltown volunteer community gardening group, but it has lain derelict since 2009.
Helm had hoped to bring the ground back to life with a working garden where young people who are not in work would tend plants and sell produce at a farm shop and restaurant.
Project leader Anthea Coulter said, “The board took the decision last week to halt the project. They feel the level of financial risk wasn’t appropriate for the charity at the time.
“I’ve had to withdraw the application from planning. It’s obviously a big disappointment but we will be focusing on developing the enterprise areas of the charity over the next year.”
Helm has been involved in a number of gardening projects over the years in Dundee and last year its gardening enterprise Green Shoots won the Dundee Community Partnership Award for the Environment.
Green Shoots is a plant nursery venture in conjunction with Servite Housing Association that develops a range of plants and other gardening products for sale.
Helm is involved in other projects throughout the city, which concentrate on furnishing young people with skills to boost their employability, including Spick and Spanners, which trains up young mechanics.