Revitalising town centres

4 Nov 2014 03:15 PM

Progress on town centre regeneration highlighted in report.

Progress on regenerating Scotland’s town centres has been outlined in a report on the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Action Plan.

The Town Centre Action Plan – One Year On report was published ahead of a Parliamentary debate that was led by Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay yesterday.

The report highlights a range of milestones that have been reached as part of the Action Plan, including:

• Agreement between the Scottish Cabinet and COSLA on the Town Centre First Principle, where Government, public bodies, businesses and communities put the health of town centres at the heart of decision-making
• An expansion of the Fresh Start business rates relief scheme to pubs, hotels and restaurants
• Record numbers of business properties in Scotland benefiting from an extension of the Small Business Bonus Scheme, with 96,265 properties paying zero or reduced business rates in 2014-15, an increase of almost 4,000 properties since last year.
• Growth in the number of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) helping to support economic growth in town centres. There are currently 27 BIDs, with ballots on a further eight expected before April 2015.
• Recognition of the role of town centres in the new National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy
• A share of £2.75 million in funding awarded to seven projects under the Town Centre Housing Fund, creating 82 units for affordable housing
• A £186,000 grant to strengthen the role of the Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) as the ‘go-to’ body for advice on town centre development

Click here for full press release