Cromlet scheme in Invergordon set to benefit from £400K Derelict Land Investment Programme cash
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Two schemes in the Highlands have succeeded in getting funding from the the low carbon Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme.
They are among 15 projects labelled “transformational” by the Scottish Government and will share £10 million in 2023-24 from the programme.
The first of the projects received £400,000 for the decontamination and redevelopment of the Cromlet area in Invergordon, former military land, to enable construction of 93 affordable homes.
Those homes will be all the more needed with the many thousands of jobs expected in years to come after the delivery of the green freeport, with the Port of Cromarty Firth in the town expected to be a major industrial hub.
The second bid will see £850,000 go towards a revamp of the Longman Park for use by Gypsies and Travellers. The site is known to have become rundown over the years and in need of improvement.
It forms one part of a wider £2.15 million project to carry out general improvements of key facilities for all council tenants.
The majority of the winning bids for the investment programme were in the central belt.
The largest grant went to Midlothian Council for its All Through Community Learning Campus Shawfair, valued at £3.7 million, while the Govan Graving Docks in Glasgow will get around £2.4 million.
Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur said: “Neglected sites are often found in more disadvantaged settings and can become no-go areas or hamper community development.
“By targeting long-standing vacant and derelict land we can ensure that investment reaches the areas that need it most.
“The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme helps attract private investment to locations which have lain dormant for years. It also supports low carbon developments.”
