THE Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) is today (April 11) publishing its Business Plan for 2022/23, which the organisation revealed focuses on improving the economic, social and environmental outcomes from the nation’s infrastructure.
For the year ahead, SFT revealed it will be delivering public sector buildings that are ‘greener’ in the construction phase and more energy efficient when in use.
SFT also aims to develop long-term financial and delivery models to accelerate new net zero infrastructure, and collaborate on innovation in modern methods of construction for affordable and energy efficient homes.
The organisation added that it will also be leading a digital pathfinder project to deliver partnerships between mobile network operators and local authorities to increase economic benefits from improved 4G and 5G coverage, as well as supporting place-based strategies and investment decisions that strengthen communities.
Peter Reekie, SFT’s chief executive, said, “Despite the challenges of the past two years, significant progress continues to be made across Scotland and in many respects, the consequences of the pandemic have created further opportunities for sustainable economic growth and enabled a heightened focus on a net zero transition. With more than £11bn worth of construction projects in the Construction Forecast pipeline Tool and a wide range of other critical infrastructure projects underway to ensure we continue to develop resilient and sustainable places, we believe SFT and its partners are playing a central role in delivering sustainable economic growth for Scotland.
“Our work to create the right infrastructure conditions for success that works for places across Scotland is being realised while also demonstrating how collaboration among like-minded organisations with creative use of funding sources is making a real and lasting difference. This collaboration is reflected across the hundreds of infrastructure projects and programmes that our teams at SFT are involved in throughout the country.
“Our teams at SFT, who work across 14 workstream activities, come from many different professional backgrounds and it’s their individual infrastructure expertise that help us to deliver the outcomes that SFT was established to pursue for Scotland. In the coming year, they are focusing on continuing to build on this culture of innovation and collaboration and making the most of the opportunities for sustainable economic growth and net zero transition.”
SFT said its hub programme supports more than 5,000 jobs, over 1,100 new apprentices, and has delivered over 120 education and 80 healthcare facilities, 20 housing projects and ‘numerous’ other civic facilities, with 70% of public sector organisations active participants in the programme.
