Regeneration funding announced to assist 22 Scots projects

A FIFE-based COMMUNITY-led initiative for ‘wellbeing, enterprise and employment’ is among several projects across Scotland to be awarded regeneration funding from the Scottish Government.

£1.5m has been allocated to help restore the currently derelict B-listed former Flax Mill building in Silverburn Park, in Leven, as part of a £25m Regeneration Capital Grant Fund which – says the Scottish Government – “will support 22 locally-developed place-based projects that tackle inequalities and promote sustainable and inclusive economic recovery from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic”.

Says a Scottish Government announcement (here): “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.”

Adds the announcement, projects to benefit from a share of the 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 £4 million technology hub in Shawfield, Glasgow, that will provide low carbon space for engineering development, medical, and digital research industries;

• 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;

• funding of £2 million to unlock investment worth £14.6 million to create a new hub in Edinburgh that will provide a nursery, library, workshops for new businesses, an expanded cafe plus six affordable homes and a revamped community arts centre (more details here, announced by The City of Edinburgh Council); and

• a new £750,000 centre in South Uist to promote Gaelic language, culture, music and dance.

Pictured: Flax Mill, Picture credit: Silverburn Park team member, James Young