Deadline looms for Highland Regeneration Fund applications
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The Highland Council is now accepting expressions of interest for the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund (RCGF) for 2022-2023 with a May 24 deadline.
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. A total of £25m is available through the fund across Scotland.
Councillor Margaret Davidson, leader of the Highland Council, said: “The Highland Council has been successful in securing RCGF 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."
The opening of applications marks Round 9 of the RCGF. Since the grant fund opened in 2014, 14 projects from the region have received funding. Among the projects that previously secured grants are Midmills Creative Hub with a £1,700,000 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 Highland Council so organisations and projects interested in applying should submit an expression of interest form on the council's website. 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.
The council leader added: “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 2022-2023.”
The form can be downloaded from the council’s website at www.highland.gov.uk/info/20014/economic_development/844/regeneration
The deadline for submissions is May 24.
Full details of the fund can be found on the Scottish Government website www.gov.scot/policies/regeneration/capital-investment/
Highland Council projects securing RCGF 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 £1,700,000)
- 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 £1,800,000)
- 2018/19 - Morvern Community Business Hub (RCGF grant £788,000)
- 2018/19 - Thomas Telford Corpach Marina (RCGF grant £1,725,000)
- 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)
- 2021/22 – Raasay Community Pontoon (RCGF grant £442,858)
- 2021/22 – Old Clyne School Heritage Centre (RCGF grant £982,793
