NEW PLAN TO REGENERATE SCOTLAND’S TOWNS PUBLISHED

New measures to revitalise town centres and regenerate local economies have been published.

In response to last year’s review of the Town Centre Action Plan, a joint report by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) outlines actions to meet the needs of communities and tackle climate change.

These include investing in low carbon transport and creating more green spaces; making town centre services as accessible as possible to help reduce unnecessary car journeys and incentivising entrepreneurship by delivering the ambitions set out in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

Other methods discussed were using the planning system to limit out of town development and ensuring non-domestic rates system continues to support net zero ambitions by providing reliefs for businesses generating more energy from renewable sources and requiring developers to install and optimise digital connectivity in new town centre housing developments and support community organisations delivering digital skills training.

Community Wealth Minister Tom Arthur (pictured above) said: “This response has been developed in partnership with local government and recognises how vital town centres are for Scotland’s economic, environmental and social wellbeing.

We all have a role to play in ensuring our towns and town centres deliver the needs of the whole community and these actions will help us deliver that ambition by creating healthier, fairer, greener and more successful towns.”

This joint response builds on work to support town centres during the pandemic and the Scottish Government’s approach developed following the National Review of Town Centres in 2013, which aims to ensure the economic, social and environmental health of town centres is at the heart of decision making.

Professor Leigh Sparks of the University of Stirling chaired the review, alongside members from COSLA, the Royal Town Planning Institute, South of Scotland Enterprise, the Carnegie Trust, the Federation of Small Businesses, Public Health Scotland and the Scottish Government.

Following the publication, the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland (FSB) urged local and national government to pledge long-term support for high streets and local economies.

Andrew McRae, FSB’s Scotland policy chair, said: “The test of this new action plan will be whether it brings people and money to our centres – we need to see more public sector services and facilities in the heart of our communities – we need to see more bigger businesses choosing to invest on our high streets, after years of chain-store and bank branch closures.

National and local decision-makers must work with local businesses closely as they develop these proposals. Ahead of this year’s local government elections, it’s great to see renewed political focus on our town centres, but this attention can’t evaporate when the ballot boxes close.”