Regeneration Capital Grant Fund opens for applications in the Highlands

1st May 2020

The Highland Council is now accepting applications for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund for 2021-2022.

The fund, which is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Government, supports locally developed regeneration projects for communities, helping with job creation and support, and in building sustainable communities.

The opening of applications marks Round 8 of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. Since the grant fund opened in 2014, 12 projects from The Highland Council region have received funding. Among the projects that have previously secured grants are Midmills Creative Hub with a £1,200,000 grant, Armadale Redevelopment with a £311,652 grant, Eigg Community Hub redevelopment with a £1,200,000 grant, and Merkinch Welfare Hall received a grant of £200,127.

Applications must be submitted by The Highland Council so organisations and projects interested in applying should fill in an expression of interest form on the website https://www.highland.gov.uk/Regeneration. This will be used to develop an official application should the project satisfy the criteria of the fund.

Among the criteria for projects are ones that focus on areas suffering from high levels of deprivation and disadvantage, that demonstrate clear community involvement, that will deliver large scale transformational change with strong regeneration outcomes, and projects and programmes that can encourage additional investment and address market failure.

Commenting on the fund, Margaret Davidson, Leader of the Highland Council, said: "The Highland Council has been successful in securing Regeneration Capital Grant Fund grants from the Scottish Government since it was established in 2014 and I would encourage any organisations or groups with worthy projects to submit an expression of interest.

"We've seen first-hand how successful previous regeneration projects have been so I look forward to hearing details of the new projects and hope the Highlands will benefit from the grant fund over the course of 2021-2022."

Those interested in applying should do so by submitting an expression of interest form by 18th May 2020. The form can be downloaded from: https://www.highland.gov.uk/Regeneration

Full details of the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund can be found on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/policies/regeneration/capital-investment/

Highland Council projects securing Regeneration Capital Grant Fund funding to date are as follows:

2015/16 - Merkinch Welfare Hall (RCGF grant £200,127)

2016/17 - Ardgay-Gateway to Sutherland (RCGF grant £530,000)

2017/18 - Midmills Creative Hub (RCGF grant £1,200,000)

2017/18 - Redevelopment of the Gairloch AAOR Site (RCGF grant £350,000)

2018/19 - Strathdearn Community Developments New Hub (RCGF grant £500,000)

2018/19 - Carse Outdoor Hub (RCGF grant £850,000)

2018/19 - Morvern Community Business Hub (RCGF grant £788,000)

2018/19 - Thomas Telford Corpach Marina (RCGF grant £1,465,000)

2019/20 - Armadale Redevelopment (£311,652)

2020/21 - Eigg Community Hub redevelopment (RCGF grant £1,200,000)

2020/21 - Inveresdale Community Centre (RCGF grant £291,265)

2020/21 - The Staffin Slipway Redevelopment (RCGF grant £969,000)

The fund is not intended to be a primary source of funding for:

Housing projects (but can support ancillary outcomes)

Major infrastructure projects relating to transport

Purchase of moveable infrastructure, e.g. furniture and fittings

Projects relating solely to hotel or retail developments - these are unlikely to be supported if there are no clear regeneration outcomes

Projects that focus solely on public realm improvements, new roads / paths or upgrades - these are unlikely to be funded. However, these may be eligible if they are elements within wider regeneration projects which will produce economic and social outcomes.

Flood protection / work / upgrades - these are not eligible