‘Decade of national renewal’ for Scotland vowed with £300m to boost communities

Scotland will see a “decade of national renewal” thanks to funding of almost £300 million from the UK Government, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has said.

Mr Alexander was speaking as it was announced 16 local authority areas – half of Scotland’s councils – will benefit from cash as part of the UK Government’s Pride in Place scheme.

Across the UK, £5 billion is being made available to help 339 communities.

In Scotland, 14 communities in 12 council areas will get up to £20 million each as part of the Plan for Neighbourhoods programme.

Meanwhile eight areas will get £1.5 million each as part of the Pride in Place Impact Funds.

With £292 million going to communities in Scotland overall, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “We’re choosing renewal over decline.

“For too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline – powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.”

While he said the cash is a “huge investment”, he added that “what matters most is who decides how it’s spent – the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game”.

Areas to benefit from the Plan for Neighbourhoods funding will be selected by the Scotland Office, together with the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, later this year, while local authorities will select the projects to benefit from Pride in Place Impact cash.

Mr Alexander said: “The UK Government is committed to delivering a decade of national renewal for Scotland.

“Through the Pride in Place programmes we’re announcing today, the UK Government will provide 14 places in Scotland with up to £20 million over 10 years and eight Scottish local authorities with £1.5 million over two years.

“We are providing almost £300 million new direct investment to local authority areas to revitalise local communities.

“The UK Government will be working with local partners to deliver economic growth and see these improvements made to communities up and down Scotland, making them even greater places to live, work and play.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the Government is “giving local people the power to transform their hometowns”.

She added that the £5 billion being invested across the UK “doesn’t just reverse decades of underinvestment in our public infrastructure”, adding it also “cuts through the bureaucracy by giving local people the power to deliver the change they want to see”.