A total of 29 projects will be awarded funding in 2017/18 as part of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF), which supports projects in disadvantaged areas that engage and involve local communities. The joint Scottish Government and COSLA investment will inject new life and opportunity into disadvantaged and fragile rural areas, helping support or create more than 2,300 jobs, support some 50 community facilities and services and refurbish or bring back into use around 25 local buildings.
Local Government Minister Kevin Stewart and Cllr Stephen Hagan, COSLA Spokesperson for Development, Economy and Sustainability, announced the funding on a visit to Out of the Blue in Leith, one of the sites that will benefit.
Mr Stewart said:
“I am delighted that 29 fantastic locally-driven projects will benefit from this major injection of funding. Spanning the length and breadth of the country, they will help regenerate local areas, stimulate economic growth and create new jobs.
“The focus of the projects range from tackling social isolation to services to address health inequalities, educational attainment, support ex-offenders and boost tourism. They are an excellent example of how national and local government are working together on shared priorities that benefit local communities.
“I’m also pleased to announce that RCGF funding has been confirmed until 2021 – and that a call for applications to the fund for 2018/19 will be made shortly.”
Cllr Hagan said:
“I’m very pleased to announce today the projects to be funded in 2017/2018 from the joint COSLA and Scottish Government RCGF. This fund is invaluable in helping to transform communities up and down the country and results in strong economic, social and physical regeneration outcomes.
“The diversity of the projects being supported is a testament to innovative thinking from local communities where regeneration activity is being tailored to local circumstances.
“The RCGF continues to go from strength to strength and the successful projects announced today reinforce local authorities’ commitment to regenerating their local communities for the benefit of local people.”
The projects awarded funding for 2017/18 are:
| Lead organisation | Project title | *Grant requested |
| Aberdeen City Council | Tillydrone Community Hub | £1,900,000 |
| Argyll & Bute Council | Oban Maritime Quarter- Transit Berthing Facility | £700,000 |
| Argyll & Bute Council | Ardrishaig Waterfront – Maritime Hub Phase 1 | £580,000 |
| Argyll & Bute Council | Tobermory Light Industrial Park | £1,600,000 |
| City of Edinburgh Council | Broomhouse Community Hub | £801,600 |
| City of Edinburgh Council | Leith Walk Studios, Street Market and Community Partnership Service Hub | £750,000 |
| Clyde Gateway URC | Arena District Industrial Development – Enabling Works | £600,000 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Isle of Lewis Heritage Programme | £870,000 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | Castlebay Harbour Initiative | £302,195 |
| Dumfries & Galloway Council | Stranraer Millennium Centre | £987,735 |
| East Ayrshire Council | Ayrshire Food from Ayrshire Folk | £920,000 |
| East Dunbartonshire Council | Auchinairn Community Regeneration Project | £1,500,000 |
| East Lothian Council | The Fraser Centre Capital Project: Achieving Change in Tranent | £730,000 |
| Falkirk Council | Arnotdale House, Falkirk – Community Hub | £1,125,547 |
| Glasgow City Council | Elderpark Community Centre | £400,000 |
| Glasgow City Council | Pollokshields Community Hub | £550,000 |
| Glasgow City Council | Seven Lochs-Easterhouse Community Gateways | £675,000 |
| Highland Council | Midmills Creative Hub | £1,200,000 |
| Highland Council | Redevelopment of the Gairloch AAOR Site | £350,000 |
| Midlothian Council | Track 2 Train | £360,000 |
| Orkney Islands Council | Orkney Research Campus Phase 1 | £500,000 |
| Perth & Kinross Council | Creative Exchange Perth | £335,000 |
| Raploch URC Company | Kildean Employability & Enterprise hub | £900,000 |
| Renfrewshire Council | Paisley Town Centre Regeneration: Learning & Cultural Hub | £1,500,000 |
| Renfrewshire Council | Mossedge Village Project | £800,000 |
| Riverside Inverclyde URC | Micro-Business Enterprising Communities Hub, Greenock | £900,000 |
| Scottish Borders Council | Newcastleton Hub & Community Fuel Pumps | £474,720 |
| South Lanarkshire Council | Community Resource Hub | £450,000 |
| Transforming Communities: Glasgow | Citizens Theatre Redevelopment | £2,500,000 |
*Final grants may change as they are subject to technical checks on applications being completed.
