A £4.4 million funding boost for regeneration projects in Scotland’s historic heartlands was announced today by Historic Environment Scotland.
The investment, which is part of the eighth round of the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS), will be split between Inverkeithing, Hawick, Lochgilphead and Mauchline and will benefit a number of projects including an investment in one of Scotland’s best surviving Victorian high streets and investment in one of Ayrshire’s more hidden historic links to Burns.
Jane Ryder OBE, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland, said: “Our ambition is to provide more ways for people who live and work in Scotland to benefit from all of our historic environment, and our grants schemes are an important part of this.
“One of the great merits of the CARS scheme is that it is locally led and allows local authorities to invest in priority properties they have identified and help communities to unlock the potential of their historic assets.”
The scheme is designed to direct funding to town centres across Scotland which have the potential to benefit from heritage-led redevelopment.
Since its inception, £43 million has been awarded to communities across the country, resulting in over 140 new businesses and the creation of more than 460 jobs in areas of high unemployment.
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: “The Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme has led to the repair and restoration of local heritage in towns across Scotland and in doing so contributes to their social fabric and community cohesion.
“It also boosts the economy as the funding supports local businesses in carrying out repairs and improvements.”
The investment comes as HES launches its new Corporate Plan for 2019 onwards which sets out how Scotland’s historic environment will be managed for current and future generations.
The launch of the plan follows an extensive period of consultation by the organisation, where people across Scotland were asked for their views on Scotland’s heritage sector, and what it meant to them.
To find out more about CARS, The Historic Environment Policy, or to read the Corporate Plan, visit: www.historicenvironment.scot.
