scottish local authority news April 2021 Borderlands deal signed Renton Campus up to widespread acclaim Major post-covid Sports begins to take Facilities boosts PLUS: Over 40 pages shape of local authority news scottish local authority news 1 Contents scottish local authority news April 2021 FEATURE Borderlands Build better Investment Deal Signed. Exciting with a Times Lie Ahead Master Builder P4–9 You want to build the best. So do we. We have been connecting home owners with quality, local EDUCATION ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES builders for over 75 years. 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FederationofMasterBuilders fmb.org.uk 2 scottish local authority news scottish local authority news 3 fmb_consumer_a4.indd 1 07/08/2018 16:41:43 FEATURE Ground-breaking Borderlands The long-term benefits of the Deal will reach all parts of the UK Government’s Secretary of State Borderlands area, driving inclusive growth and delivering for Housing, Communities and Local Inclusive Growth Government, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick significant and lasting benefits for individuals, businesses MP, added: and communities. “The Borderlands Growth Deal will Deal formally The Deal is truly distinctive, covering £85 million in the region over the next realise a new era of regeneration and the largest geographical area of any 10 years that will build strategically on opportunity as we build back better regional growth Deal negotiated with the region’s natural assets, resources from the pandemic. the UK and Scottish Governments and and entrepreneurial spirit to drive signed it is the first cross-border deal. sustainable economic growth. “The Ad Gefrin Visitor Experience and Distillery, and the Carlisle It will bring a transformative step “Projects the Scottish Government Station regeneration project are just change for the businesses and is supporting through the Deal will two examples of schemes already communities of the Borderlands by focus on reinvigorating town centres, benefitting from the Deal which will increasing productivity, growing the expanding business sites and premises create jobs and improve regional working age population, and delivering to stimulate business growth and job connectivity. We’re levelling up across a more inclusive economy. The projects creation, maximising the region’s the UK by investing in jobs, driving of the Deal aim to deliver up to 5,500 appeal as a leading outdoor and economic growth, and strengthening jobs and £1.1billion of additional adventure tourism destination and our cross-border links,” GVA with a sustainable and inclusive equipping people with the skills they approach to growth. need to forge successful careers and UK Government Minister for Scotland, contribute to their communities. Iain Stewart MP, summed up the scale Scottish Government Cabinet of it all: Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure “The Deal is focused on local people and Connectivity, Michael Matheson and local priorities, enabling the “The benefits of the UK Government's MSP, said: Borderlands area to create sustainable £265 million investment in the deal jobs, re-invigorate the economy, and will be felt by communities across “I am pleased to be signing the build strategically for long term growth the whole of the Borderlands region Borderlands Growth Deal, confirming and prosperity.” and beyond. Exciting projects like the that the Scottish Government will invest Mountain Bike Innovation Centre and a Dairy Innovation Centre in Dumfries, Dairy Nexus, will build on regional strengths to create jobs and prosperity, while improvements to digital and transport infrastructure will ensure that we build back better from the pandemic. “Across Scotland we have committed more than £1.5 billion to City Region and Growth Deals.” The Borderlands Partnership is made up of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council. 4 scottish local authority news scottish local authority news 5 FEATURE Health benefits of Councillor John Mallinson, Leader of Carlisle City Council and Borderlands Partnership Board Co-Chair, said: walking and cycling “It’s fantastic to in Scotland announce the signing of the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal bringing fresh investment from Government of up to £350million to our region, alongside local contributions 46% decreased risk of developing heart disease and of over £100million. The Deal is an ambitious approach to cross-border working between Governments, local 45% decreased risk of cancer if you cycle to work authorities and other partners which will boost economic growth by helping existing business, encouraging new infrastructure; encouraging green tourism and business infrastructure, ventures and bringing a wealth of growth; and supporting innovation, will help position the Borderlands as is the yearly cost of physical inactivity to the improvements to our region. business and skills. Each theme has an a vibrant and attractive place to live £94m agreed set of projects which will help and visit. NHS in Scotland “The Deal will also provide crucial deliver a step change for the businesses support to our region’s recovery from and communities of Borderlands by Delivery has started on some of the the Covid-19 emergency and ensure increasing productivity, growing the Deal projects, following the release of we set in place strong foundations on working age population and delivering early funding by the UK Government. which to build back better and greener, a more inclusive economy. This includes top up funding for a 1/3 lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you delivering inclusive and sustainable Digital Voucher scheme supporting are physically active growth.” £20 million funding is included for an businesses and private customers to exciting redevelopment of Carlisle install high speed broadband; funding Councillor Mark Rowley, Executive Station and the surrounding area, to for the development of the Borderlands Member for Economic Regeneration act as a gateway to the region. Work to Energy Masterplan; £5million towards & Finance from Scottish Borders assess the benefits and challenges of the building of Lilidorei, a large-scale Council, who hold the other co-Chair extending the Edinburgh – Tweedbank new play village to enhance the visitor position, said: Borders Railway to Carlisle will also offer at the Alnwick Gardens, the start be progressed, including feasibility at of the work to redevelop Carlisle Station “The Borderlands Inclusive Growth the appropriate stage of business case and a £3million investment towards Deal will have a transformational development. The Deal will support the Ad Gefrin Visitor Experience and impact on the whole region, with the the delivery of a new Berwick Theatre Distillery in Northumberland. aim of creating 5,500 jobs, bringing while the skills and innovation work will in over 4 million extra tourists include the development of a Mountain The £350 million investment from the and improving mobile and digital Biking Innovation Centre in the Scottish UK and Scottish Governments is made connections thanks to the funding from Borders. Funding will also support up of £150 million for Scotland (£85 the two governments and the additional the development of Chapelcross in million from the Scottish Government investment the deal will attract. Dumfries and Galloway, as the region’s and £65 million from the UK clean growth strategic investment site Government) and up to £200 million for “The unlocking of investment in for low carbon energy generation and England from the UK Government. This our towns will generate a predicted energy efficient businesses. will be supported by over £100million £1.1billion uplift in the region’s GVA of funding from local partners. and the partners will be able to deliver The Deal will deliver an investment individually and collectively a range of of up to £31million in green energy projects which will not only improve projects and £7million to develop skills For more information, visit the the area for existing residents but also needed by the regional economy, along partnership website at encourage more to move here, which with much needed improvements in www.borderlandsgrowth.com will help address some of the common digital and mobile connectivity across challenges we face.” the region. The importance of the region’s towns will be the focus of the The Deal will deliver across four £50million Place Programme, which, themes: improving places; enabling along with significant investments in 6 scottish local authority news scottish local authority news 7 Sustrans is a registered charity in Scotland (SC039263) and in England and Wales (326550) Untitled-7 1 29/05/2018 16:57 FEATURE FEATURE Council and a wide range of partners, “There is still a lot of work to do to “This investment will take the work of delivering new jobs and sustainable realise this vision and we will continue Mountain Bike Centre of Scotland to the growth which will help support the to work with the project partners and next level, helping to drive innovation region for decades to come.