Government reports that 16 Scottish Local Authorities will help revitalise communities as part of the government\u2019s \u2018Plan for Change\u2019, with spending decisions in the hands of local people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Government UK writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Local communities are at the heart of Scottish life – and the Scotland Office is backing them with millions of pounds to improve the opportunities and environment for people across the country, the Prime Minister announced today. The Pride in Place programme will see up to \u00a3280 million shared among 12 Scottish local authorities to precisely target areas which can benefit most from funding being made available for a wide range of regeneration projects. In Scotland, Wales and England 169 of the most-in-need communities will benefit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This includes revitalising high streets and town centres, preserving local heritage, providing housing, creating jobs, boosting productivity and skills, improving health and well-being, creating new transport links, providing education and opportunity and improving safety and security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And a Pride in Place Impact Fund will see eight local authorities share \u00a312 million to fund the types of changes people have said they want to see. These could include new green spaces, play areas and town centre revitalisation to sports and leisure facilities and the improvement and ownership of key community assets. A total of 95 areas will receive this capital funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: \u2018For too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline \u2013 powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now. We\u2019re investing in the UK\u2019s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it\u2019s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities. This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it\u2019s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best \u2013 the people with real skin in the game. We\u2019re choosing renewal over decline, unity over division. This is our Plan for Change in action \u2013 giving power and pride back to the people who make Britain great.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: \u2018The UK Government is committed to delivering a decade of national renewal for Scotland. Through the Pride in Place programmes we\u2019re announcing today, the UK Government will provide 14 places in Scotland with up to \u00a320 million over 10 years and eight Scottish local authorities with \u00a31.5 million over two years. We are providing almost \u00a3300 million new direct investment to local authority areas to revitalise local communities. The UK Government will be working with local partners to deliver economic growth and l see these improvements made to communities up and down Scotland making them even greater places to live, work and play.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed said: \u2018Building pride in place starts with people, not politics. Local people know what they want to see in their neighbourhoods \u2013 and they don\u2019t need government to dictate it. This plan will spark an historic grassroots movement that will restore local people\u2019s power, boost national pride and help people get on in life across the UK as part of our Plan for Change.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: \u2018We\u2019re giving local people the power to transform their hometowns. Giving them more control of how money is spent where they live so that together we can invest in Britain\u2019s renewal and build an economy that rewards working people. This \u00a35 billion investment doesn\u2019t just reverse decades of underinvestment in our public infrastructure \u2013 it cuts through the bureaucracy by giving local people the power to deliver the change they want to see\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Around \u00a3200 million direct funding has already been committed for 10 Scottish towns in the Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme announced earlier this year. This is being extended in the Pride in Place programme so a further 14 places in Scotland will benefit from up to \u00a320 million each over 10 years. Local people in the existing 10 Scottish towns are already having their say over how to improve their community:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The new Pride in Place Impact Fund will see eight Scottish local authorities receive \u00a31.5 million each over two years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n