Projects to transform derelict land set for share of £5m

Exterior of the Scottish Parliament

TEN schemes aiming to transform some of Scotland’s longest standing vacant and derelict sites have been awarded a share of £5 million.

The funding comes from the Scottish Government’s £50 million vacant and derelict land investment programme, which looks to drive regeneration and innovation while tackling climate change.

Projects in line to benefit from the funding include works in Edinburgh to redevelop ‘more challenging’ building plots to help deliver 133 net zero and affordable homes. Heat pump technology to reduce carbon emissions will also be installed at proposed commercial developments on vacant land at Magenta Business Park in South Lanarkshire.

Further projects set to benefit include the decontamination and redevelopment of former industrial land for social housing and outdoor pursuits in Twechar, and regenerating derelict land in east Greenock for the creation of a food growing project for local people.

The Scottish Government’s community wealth minister, Tom Arthur, said, “Derelict sites are often found in more disadvantaged areas and can hold back development of communities. This programme is delivering community regeneration and tackling climate change, in line with our national strategy to transform the economy and deliver sustainable and inclusive growth and a fairer society.

“At the same time as announcing these grants, we are opening the programme to projects seeking funding in 2023/24 and I look forward to building on the momentum generated by today’s investments.”

The full list of project to benefit is as follows:

Lead applicant Project Title For 2022/23 For 2023/24 For 2024/25 Total Grant Recommended
City of Edinburgh Council Greendykes North affordable housing £623,713 £623,713
Clyde Gateway D2 GRIDS £664,000 £664,000
East Dunbartonshire Council Twechar Canal Regeneration Project £614,925 £614,925
Glasgow City Council Hamiltonhill Green Infrastructure Project £924,911 £924,911
Glasgow City Council Ruchazie Greening and Growing project £185,000 £240,000 £245,000 £670,000
Inverclyde Carwood Street Food Growing Project £69,500 £69,500
Inverclyde HSCP Community Learning £990,000 £990,000
North Ayrshire Council Annickbank Innovation Campus, Irvine Enterprise Area £400,000 £400,000
North Lanarkshire Council Glenmanor Greenspace £230,911 £230,911
West Dunbartonshire Council Community Food Growing – Former Bonhill PS £100,000 £100,000
£4,802,960 £240,000 £245,000 £5,287,960