Conservation grants given to cities

Feb 6 2012

Scotland's cities are to receive a share of over £7 million in grants designed to safeguard and enhance conservation areas and the historic environment.

The largest of the City Heritage Trust grants, £2.55 million, has been awarded to Glasgow. Edinburgh will receive around £2.15 million and Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Stirling will each receive £750,000.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "It is vital that we continue to improve the quality of our Scottish cities to make them better places to live, work and invest.

"Managing our historic environment creatively also contributes to sustainable economic growth by growing Scotland's construction industry and increasing the availability and quality of traditional skills and materials.

"Using new skills and sustainable materials in the adaptation of existing buildings will also help support the historic environment's transition to a low carbon economy.

"This investment builds on our Agenda for Cities and £7 million Cities Investment Fund which has been launched to build the momentum to make sure our cities and their regions make the fullest possible contribution to sustained economic recovery, stimulating economic recovery and job creation."

Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH), said: "We are highly encouraged by this vote of confidence by the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland in the work of EWH and our fellow city heritage trusts.

"This will enable us to support the Scottish Government's emphasis on the importance of place, conserving the remarkable buildings and monuments that attract over four million visitors a year to Edinburgh, as well as supporting the city's quality of life and encouraging other investment in the city.

"As our building grants are refundable on the sale of the property, government and Historic Scotland will be receiving excellent value for money, seeing its investment in EWH used many times over in the coming years while levering in an average of £4 for each £1 of public investment in each case.

"The grants also support valuable craft skills which in tough times such as these, tend to suffer."