Grants to revitalise neighbourhoods

Rainbow over field of sheep
Lisa Paton

Regeneration projects in some of Scotland’s more disadvantaged and rural communities will share more than £25 million of funding to support community projects and local economies.

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund will support 22 locally developed place-based projects that tackle inequalities and promote sustainable and inclusive economic recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Whilst helping revitalise town centres and neighbourhoods, these projects aim to support up to 3,000 jobs, training and volunteering opportunities and reduce local carbon emissions.

Projects to benefit from a share of this fund include:

  • initiatives that transform historic buildings into new shared business spaces, including work to turn a disused historic building in Renfrewshire into the country’s first theatre designed for young people
  • a new £2.3 million Skills and Innovation Centre in Kelloholm, Dumfries and Galloway, that will create community project space and offices for third sector and small businesses 
  • a new £750,000 centre in South Uist to promote Gaelic language, culture, music and dance

Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: 

"The last few years have been tough for us all but many of Scotland’s communities have been more impacted than others. The latest projects to benefit from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund are working to tackle inequalities and create vibrant town centres and neighbourhoods. 

"By securing investment from this £25 million fund, these innovative projects demonstrate the powerful role those in our communities can have in helping to transform their town centres and neighbourhoods by investing in their future. The Scottish Government will do all it can to support projects that help create the fairer, greener and more prosperous Scotland we all want to see.”  

COSLA’s Environment and Economy spokesperson Councillor Steven Heddle said:

“Once again, the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund has created the opportunity to deliver jobs, tackle inequalities and create better places across Scotland.

“The exciting projects announced today showcase the best of partnership between local authorities and our communities, delivering economic and social renewal as we rebuild from the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The diversity of projects supported is testament to the success of identifying local solutions to enable people to live well locally.

“In the face of the climate emergency, it is essential that the most vulnerable in society are not further disadvantage by climate change and I am especially pleased to see the additional focus on achieving a just transition to a net zero society.”

Matt Lammie, Chair of Kirkconnel & Kelloholm Development Trust, said:

“This grant support for the new Kelloholm Skills and Innovation Centre is fantastic news and a great boost to the community of Kirkconnel and Kelloholm, in what has been a difficult year. Our whole community has worked hard to bring the Skills & Innovation Centre project forward and it will make a real difference to regenerating our area, connecting us to the wider world, and most important of all it will help our young people to get the skills that the need so that they can live, work and prosper here where they were brought up rather than having to move away.”

Background

The Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, COSLA and local government. It is a competitive fund supported by an independent Investment Panel.

The latest 22 projects announced today means a commitment of over £25 million to be invested from RCGF next year.

Aberdeenshire Council

Pavilion Block, Tarlair Swimming Pool Complex

£1,458,000

Argyll and Bute Council

Obair Ùr Thiorodh – Tiree Community Business hub

£565,000

Argyll and Bute Council

Kerrera Old School - Community Hub Final Phase

£285,000

Argyll and Bute Council

Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building

£602,590

City of Edinburgh Council

Macmillan Hub

£2,000,000

City of Edinburgh Council

West Shore Studios

£1,730,000

Clyde Gateway URC

New Olympia House

£650,000

Clyde Gateway URC

Magenta Technology Hub

£4,000,000

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Cnoc Soilleir Phase 2

£750,000

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Ionad Hiort/St Kilda Centre

£950,000

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Kelloholm Skills & Innovation Centre

£2,313,889

Dumfries and Galloway Council

Thornhill Hub

£1,100,000

Dundee City Council

FCSS Fintry Community Hub Childcare Project

£531,503

East Ayrshire Council

Creative Cyber Campus

£1,370,000

Fife Council

The Flax Mill at Silverburn Park, Leven

£1,500,000

Glasgow City Council

The Briggait Clydeside Market Halls

£1,609,008

Highland Council

Garve Community Hub

£210,000

Inverclyde Council

Parklea Community Garden Hub

£1,100,000

North Ayrshire Council

Ardrossan Promenade

£748,000

North Lanarkshire Council

Braidhurst Industrial Estate

£1,800,000

Orkney Islands Council

‘The Pund’ - Trebb Community Resource Hub

£985,460

Renfrewshire Council

Exchange Young People’s Theatre

£800,000