Fourteen local projects aimed at improving communities and places across Aberdeenshire are to share more than £2 million in new funding to help drive economic recovery, improve our town centres and support regeneration activity.
…ensuring that investment decisions are shaped by the evidenced needs of local communities…
Scottish Construction Now writes:
Earlier this year, the Scottish Government announced a £38 million capital injection into the national ‘Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP)’ for 2021-22, with Aberdeenshire’s allocation totalling £2.04m.
The PBIP is seen as the first step in creating coherent local strategies to guide investment priorities and to implement the ‘place principle’ which is a key component of the new Programme for Government.
Central to this will be ensuring that investment decisions are shaped by the evidenced needs of local communities, regenerate and revitalise towns and villages, help tackle inequality and disadvantage and accelerate Scotland towards ‘net zero’ emissions targets. Another significant feature of the investment will be increased footfall within our town centres which will benefit local businesses.
The Aberdeenshire PBIP Panel looked for projects which can demonstrate local engagement and support, can realistically be delivered in a short timescale, are sustainable and help to transform their places.
The successful Aberdeenshire projects include the enhancement of several existing town centre initiatives as well as several new ones, including funding towards a new skate and wheeled sports park in Fraserburgh, bringing the Alford Valley Community Railway station building back into use and a priority transport scheme in Ellon.
Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s infrastructure services committee, Councillor Peter Argyle, said: “Creating vibrant, successful, sustainable places is at the heart of our decision-making. This money will help a number of communities across Aberdeenshire to improve their places and will, in turn, support the longer-term economic recovery.”
“The fund was heavily over-subscribed….”
