Perth and Kinross is set to benefit from almost £2 million to boost its town centres.
The Scottish Government’s new town centre fund will see £1,983,000 given to Perth and Kinross Council to help make sure the region’s town centres and high streets are diverse, sustainable and successful in the future.
The money will be used to re-purpose empty buildings for housing or community enterprises, for example, although it is up to the local authority to decide how the money should be spent.
John Swinney, MSP for Perthshire North, said he hopes the money can be spent redeveloping rural town centres.
He said: “This funding announcement can help transform town centres in Perth and Kinross, such as Pitlochry, Blairgowrie and Aberfeldy.
The health of our town centres is vital to the economic and cultural life of our communities - and this new investment can make a real difference.
“Perth and Kinross Council must now ensure that the £1.98m is spent wisely, and ensure that our local town centres reap the benefits of this huge investment.
“The SNP’s town centre fund is part of a wider package of business support measures that will help drive economic activity in Perth and Kinross, helping give our local high streets a welcome boost.”
The news was also welcomed by fellow SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham.
The Perthshire South and Kinross-shire representative said: “It is great news that Perth and Kinross Council is to receive an allocation of almost £2m from the Scottish Government’s £50m town centre fund.
“This fund, which was announced by Derek Mackay during his budget statement, will be a really useful boost to local economies and I look forward to hearing from Perth and Kinross Council how it intends to allocate these funds throughout the council area.
“Once again, we see the Scottish Government providing funds aimed at helping town centres and local businesses and I very much hope that the council will reach out to local communities to see what plans they have within their own towns that could be supported from these funds.”
Speaking when the town centre fund was announced, Derek Mackay, finance secretary, said: “Town centres are facing challenges across Scotland in adapting to a changing retail climate, and it is important that we help them to diversify and adjust to overcome these challenges.
“I want to make sure we can keep life in our high streets, and ensure they continue to be thriving places for communities to live, work and enjoy.
“This £50m fund will enable local authorities to stimulate and support a wide range of investments which will encourage town centres to diversify and flourish, and create an increase in footfall through local improvements and partnerships.
“It is part of a wider boost to the economy through providing more than £5 billion of capital investment to grow and modernise Scotland’s infrastructure, and a wider package of support to businesses, including maintaining a competitive business rates package and providing the most generous package of non-domestic rates relief anywhere in the UK.”
