Ongoing regeneration across Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute is helping to attract more people and jobs and make towns and villages more attractive places to live, work and visit.
Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute Council is delivering a programme of investment across 18 large-scale projects worth £35 million to the area.
The council is committing over £5 million and working with partner organisations and external funders to lead on a range of projects to deliver community benefits and help attract further investment.
Projects include:
- £10 million Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes and Townscape Heritage Initiative across Helensburgh, Dunoon, Lochgilphead and Rothesay.
- Tarbert/Lochgilphead Regeneration Fund (£3 million). Works completed include new shore side facilities and road improvements at Tarbert and Lochgilphead Front Green. Work to improve Ardrishaig village is currently underway.
- Hermitage Park – Parks for People (£3.75 million). The funding has delivered a new volunteer bothy, landscaping and planting with ongoing works to develop a programme of activities.
- £10 million Regeneration Capital Grant Funding (RCGF). Supporting 15 projects including Tiree Community Business Hub, Kerrera Old School Community Hub and Ulva Ferry Shore Facilities Building.
- Scottish Government Place Based Investment (£821,000). Projects include a regional shopfront improvement scheme, public realm improvement works at Oban and Bowmore, priority-building repairs in Rothesay and Dunoon and pier resurfacing works in Helensburgh.
- Scottish Government Islands Programme (£740,000). Investment for ten projects on Jura, Gigha, Tiree, Kerrera, Mull, Iona, Islay, Colonsay and Rothesay. They include a new campsite, renewable heating and pier restoration works.
- Scotland Loves Local (£46,000). To help ongoing economic recovery and encourage shopping locally.
More details about the large-scale projects can be found on the council website (Public Pack)Agenda Document for Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, 01/09/2022 10:30 (argyll-bute.gov.uk)
Councillor Robin Currie, Policy Lead for the Economy and Rural Growth:
“Ongoing investment is critical for the future economic success of Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute. We are committed to delivering regeneration to help the economic recovery of the area, help our small businesses and make Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æ and Bute more investor ready. Improving our towns and villages as places to live, work and visit will make a lasting difference to the area.
There are lots of exciting projects happening and I’m incredibly proud of all the hard work to make this happen.â€
Funders for the projects include the Scottish Government, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, LEADER, Sustrans, Scotland Town’s Partnership and grant/in-kind funding.