Regeneration funding confirmed for six local authorities

22 February 2011

HISTORIC communities in six council areas have been awarded almost £3m regeneration funding, Culture and External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop confirmed today.
The successful bids for Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) grants will see repairs and improvements in Ayr, Rothesay, Portsoy, Anstruther, Dingwall and Irvine.

The Minister said: “When we speak about regeneration it is important that we do not lose sight of what makes a place unique or special. These grants are specifically for areas that have a historic heart to them.

“The successful projects in Irvine, Rothesay, Portsoy, Anstruther, Dingwall and my own home town of Ayr, are centring attention on buildings that represent something about the character of these towns. These are landmarks that people have grown up with and they are part of identity of the community.

“It is hugely important that at difficult economic times grants like these are there to support ambition to make our homes, villages and towns better places to live and work. Each scheme is locally and will draw on expertise and passion to give people a way to get involved and directly benefit from it.

“I am delighted that in the six years since this Grants programme was launched £16m has been invested in revitalising our conservation areas with 22 of our local authorities seizing the opportunity to breath new life into some of the most historic architecture in our country.”

In Irvine the category A-listed Trinity Church will be repaired and brought back into use as part of a wider program of public realm improvements. It has already undergone the first phase of improvement works to protect and preserve the building, including emergency repairs to the spire, roof and windows in 2009.   

In Ayr, Rothesay and Anstruther the funding will be part of larger projects within a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

Aberdeenshire Council is using the project in Portsoy to capitalise on heritage-led regeneration to kick start a rural economy and improving historic shopfronts will be one aspect of the repairs carried out in Dingwall by Highland Council.

In addition to funding the awards, Historic Scotland is providing technical information and advice both to the local authorities and building owners taking part in the project.

Grant Awards

Award                            

Aberdeenshire	Portsoy	£500,000
Argyll and Bute	Rothesay	£499,933
Fife	Anstruther	£500,000
Highland	Dingwall	£420,000
North Ayrshire	Irvine	£500,000
South Ayrshire	Ayr	£498,244
		£2,918,177

Notes to Editors

In 2005 £8m was committed over a five year period to provide financial assistance to area-based regeneration and conservation initiatives. Linda Fabiani, Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture announced a further £8m in April 2008.

Councils to benefit from previous rounds are listed below:

2007-2012 – Aberdeenshire, Banff and Peterhead (£156,250 & £650,000); Argyll and Bute, Campbeltown (£382,500); Dumfries and Galloway, Whithorn (£370,000); East Ayrshire, Kilmarnock (£811,170); Edinburgh, Leith (£468,285); Falkirk, Bo’ness (£300,000); Fife, Dunfermline (£850,000); Highland, Wick (£1,500,000); Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Killin (£62,500); North Lanarkshire, Kilsyth (£325,000); South Lanarkshire, Leadhills (£400,000) and Western Isles, Stornoway (£300,000).
Total £6,575,705.

2008-2013 – Aberdeen, The Green (£350,000); Fife, Dysart (£395,000); Perth and Kinross, Coupar Angus (£192,000); Midlothian, Dalkeith – Park & High Street (£318,406); Angus, Brechin (£370,750) and East Ayrshire, Kilmarnock – John Finnie/ Bank Street (£253,980)
Total £1,880,136

2009-2014 - Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Callendar (£250,000); North Lanarkshire, Cumbernauld (£375,000); East Ayrshire, Cumnock (£888,050); Fife, Kirkcaldy (£495,917); Orkney, Stromness (£857,583); Scottish Borders, Kelso (£307,500); Perth and Kinross, Blair Atholl (£306,574); East Lothian, Haddington (£836,000) and Renfrewshire, Paisley (£738,800).
Total £5,055,424
Total CARS £13,511,265